Rare Football Injury

Prince Gbeddeh is a Rock Island High School student and a key player of the Rock Island Rocks Varsity Football Team. On August 29, during the season opener game, Prince suffered a dislocated knee during the second quarter. After being rushed to the hospital, it was discovered that Prince had ruptured an artery in his leg. Things took a turn for the worse and there was a chance that Prince would not make it through the night. Fortunately, doctors were able to repair the artery and were able to restore function to the kidneys and lungs. Prince has been in at the OSF St. Francis Medical Hospital since that night, spending many days in the Intensive Care Unit.

As refugees from Liberia, Prince and his family (mother, Martina, and four siblings) moved to Rock Island in 2008. Prince became a U.S. Citizen in 2012. Not only is he a full time student and athlete, but Prince also worked two part-time jobs to help support his family, one at Burger King and one at Hy-Vee.

Prince’s injury has been a life-changing event. Not only does he have growing medical costs each day (expected to exceed $500,000), but he has also lost part of the family’s livelihood and options to continue a football career in college.

Rock Island-Milan School District teachers and staff have set up this site to help Prince and his family through this difficult time. Please consider donating to support his cause! One thing Prince has not lost is his integrity and spirit! He is the true spirit of what it means to be a ROCK! #PRINCE30ROCKS