Parker Wynk, joined by his teammates Jake Klosterman (11) and Noah Talmadge (0), leads the Bulldogs through the tunnel and onto the field during Friday night’s homecoming game against Bath. The Bulldogs defeated the Wildcats 42-0. Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard

A Homecoming Miracle

Parker Wynk returns to walk on Senior Night

By Gary R. Rasberry

CELINA – Fifty days from being taken off the Celina Stadium field on a stretcher with concerns of not being able to walk again, Parker Wynk on Friday walked across the field for Senior Night and Homecoming.

“It’s really nothing short of a miracle,” said Parker’s mother, Sierra Wynk, during a Zoom interview this week with Parker and father Gary Wynk. “We are so, so incredibly grateful to God and everyone for just fervently praying, without ceasing, honestly, for this entire time that we’ve been here (in Columbus).”

The Celina senior’s story of going from initial paralysis to making the walk across the field is one of emotion.

On Aug. 21 in the season opener with St. Henry, Wynk was trying to recover a fumble near the goal line, collided with another player and did not get up.

Coaches, trainers and medical personnel ran onto the field. Parker asked for his parents when he was unable to move.

Paramedics from the Celina Fire Department immobilized Parker to a backboard and stretcher and took him to Mercer Health in Coldwater, then he was transported to Dayton Children’s Hospital and later the Wexner Medical Center on the campus of Ohio State University.

It was discovered that Parker had spinal stenosis, the narrowing of the spinal canal that could lead to spinal damage. A laminoplasty, a procedure to widen the spinal canal on the cervical spine portion of the neck to relieve pressure, was performed.

“Before the surgery, Dr. Xu (who performed the procedure) was really, really happy about it, he was like very confident,” said Sierra.

“And he was really nice to me, and he was like saying that this is going to go super good. The next day after he was like, you’re a super strong kid, I know you’re gonna make a really good recovery,” interjected Parker.

Celina football’s Parker Wynk returns to field seven weeks after spinal injury

Parker Wynk returns on eventful Football Friday Night

Wynk and his senior teammates walk onto the field for the coin flip. Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard

“So that was really encouraging to him,” continued Sierra. “But this other doctor that was with them told Parker he’d probably be in a wheelchair for a very long time. And so that was really discouraging to him.”

Slowly, but surely, things began to improve for Parker once he moved from Wexner to the Dodd Rehabilitation Hospital in Columbus.

“Whenever I was able to move my fingers, that’s when I felt like I would (be OK). I was like, really scared,” said Parker. “I wouldn’t be able to move my hands, and whenever I was able to move my fingers and legs it gave me motivation, because I knew everything I wanted to do would be possible, so that helped me definitely.”

Eventually, short steps led to longer walks, with someone holding a special belt to keep Parker from falling. Walks on the floor and climbing flights of stairs became part of his therapy.

“Four to five weeks ago, we didn’t know where we would be and if it would actually be possible,” said Gary. “I mean, we kept on praying to get Parker to the point that he can walk back on the field. Prayers did come true.”

The doctor who initially gave the pessimistic long-term prognosis was very happy.

“He was like, ‘This is awesome. This is what makes us love to work in this field to see this type of progress,’ ” said Parker. “Whenever we were at Wexner, he did my test, and he was like, ‘I feel like you’re gonna be in a wheelchair for a very long time.’ Now he sees me walking in the hallways, and he’s always super impressed and can’t believe it.”

The support for Parker poured in. Family, teammates, classmates and coaches visited whenever possible.

At top left, Celina football players surround their teammate Parker Wynk to pray before walking onto the field Friday night. Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard

“It helps take your mind off, like if you’re not having a good day, it helps you bring your day up and then makes you happy,” said Parker about the visits from back home. “It makes you ready to go to therapy and get better so you can get back to hanging out with them normally.”

Area schools showed their support. Many football teams wore helmet stickers bearing Wynk’s No. 8. In the pregame before Celina’s Week Two game with Wapakoneta, Redskin players and coaches wore T-shirts with a green No. 8 on the back.

Businesses around Celina had Wynk’s name and number painted on windows, with support for his recovery and return home added to business signs. Numerous businesses ran fundraisers or promotions to help defray the family’s costs of travel and medical bills. T-shirt makers created special designs, restaurants held Parker Wynk days or sold Bulldog Pride drinks, and multiple vendors donated efforts to a special tailgate Aug. 28 that brought the Celina and Wapakoneta communities together to support Parker and his family.

Wynk, his father, Gary Wynk, and former coach Roy Pifer make their way through Bulldog alley greeting fans. Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard

The visits and notes didn’t just come from local supporters. Lieutenant governor and former Ohio State football coach Jim Tressel visited. Current Ohio State coach Ryan Day and Buckeye football players also stopped by as part of the Buckeyes’ tradition of visiting patients the day before games. Cincinnati Bengals Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins sent autographed jerseys, other NFL players sent letters, and colleges sent care packages.

Wynk meets the Ohio State running backs Sept. 26 in Columbus. Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard

“It’s really cool. The (Ohio State players) visiting me and the schools sending me cards and stuff. It helps motivate me to want to work harder,” said Parker

Former Ohio State football player Tyson Gentry, who suffered a spinal injury during a scrimmage that left him in a wheelchair, also visited. Gentry’s New Perspective Foundation helps families of spinal injury patients with travel expenses. That allowed some of Parker’s relatives from outside Ohio to be able to visit him in Columbus.

Then there are the family, friends and neighbors that have done the little things to make sure Gary and Sierra could focus on Parker’s recovery.

“Old friends of mine from school, Sean and Karen Steinbrunner, live about a half-hour away,” said Gary. “They’ve always opened their house to us if we need showers. They’ve brought meals to us about 56 times already.”

“Our friends, family and neighbors have just supported us in taking our kids (Gianna, who plays soccer for the Bulldogs, sister Channing and brother Hudson) places, letting our dog out,” continued Sierra. “Our neighbors walked our dog, mowed our grass and did our garbage.”

“Pastor Craig (Flack) and Pastor Brad (Seeger, from Celina First Church of God) came several times to see us. Our church community has been amazing,” added Gary.

“It’s been nothing short of amazing,” said Sierra. “We’re so, so thankful to everyone.”

When the Wynks were able to bring Parker home for a day visit in late September. Students from Tri-Star Career Compact built a wheelchair ramp to allow Parker to enter the house easily.

Tri-Star Career Compact students build a ramp at the Wynk residence. Photo by Paige Sutter/The Daily Standard

Then on Thursday, the day before Senior Night and Homecoming, Parker came home to stay. He will travel to Dublin three days a week to continue his rehabilitation therapy.

Parker, who needed just one credit to graduate, has been able to keep up with school work with an online English course.

The Wynks plan on meeting with the school to see about the rest of the school year. The hope is that by the third quarter, Parker will be able to attend classes between his continued therapy sessions. Parker also plans on walking to receive his diploma come graduation next spring.

When asked what he would offer to others who have gone through what he has gone through, Parker didn’t hesitate. “I would definitely tell them don’t lose hope and never stop fighting and attack every day’s therapy like it’s your last,” said Parker.

“I feel like today, I was walking even better than I was yesterday. So just feel the more, the harder you work, I feel like, the easier everything gets, and I’ll definitely tell them if they believe in God, pray, and He’ll give you peace and strength to get through this.”

A GoFundMe page with a goal of $25,0000 raised over $50,000.