The Cincinnati high school football community is rallying around a longtime official who lost a leg after a collision during a scrimmage.
Jim Abbott was severely injured during a scrimmage Aug. 14 at Withrow High School. Abbott was set up as the umpire behind the defense and was brought down in a collision. He suffered a dislocated knee and the trauma of the injury combined with the metal parts in his leg following a knee replacement led to severe circulation issues in the leg. That forced doctors at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center to amputate his right leg above the knee the next day.
Abbott, who lives on a farm in Adams County, faces weeks of inpatient physical therapy before returning home, followed by prosthetic fitting and additional
rehabilitation. His wife, Becky, has also stepped away from work to support him.
Abbott has been officiating football and basketball for more than 30 years, and the Ohio Valley Football Officials Association said he’s a member of its board of directors.
His niece, Ashley Sevier, has set up a GoFundMe page to help the Abbotts with medical and living expenses. As of Sept. 1, it had surpassed the initial goal of $30,000.
On Aug. 28, Abbott got a surprise visit from Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jim Tressel, a former football coach at Ohio State University, Youngstown State University and Miami University.
He told FOX19 he is ready to move forward and deal with the setback. He wants to drive again, keep his family farm and eventually referee again.
“This is the hand I’m dealt. We’re going to play the hand. We’re going to win,” Abbott said. “This is a situation that was presented to me. I don’t have a choice. I can sit down in the fetal position and stay in bed, or I can get back up, rehab hard and get back to life as quickly as I can.”
Abbott said that his thoughts turn toward Parker Wynk, a player at Celina High School in Western Ohio, who has drawn statewide support after suffering a spinal cord injury during a game.
Abbott wants to meet with the player who hit him and tell him it wasn’t his fault.
“He needs to know that this was football,” Abbott told FOX19. “This is a collision sport; it’s written into the rules. What happened, happened. Man, good things are going to come to you. I don’t want him feeling badly. I don’t need to hear I’m sorry. This is football. It happened. What’s next? That’s my phrase. What’s next?”
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: GoFundMe set up to help longtime referee Abbott after leg amputation
