ESPN.com: Ray Still Fighting to Play
Mount Carmel High School standout Arthur Ray Jr. was set to go Michigan State on scholarship and play offensive line for the Trojans.
Yet before a single snap of his college career, Ray's life took a dramatic turn when what he thought was a harmless bump turned out to be a cancerous tumor in his leg.
In April 2007, Ray was diagnosed with osteosarcoma, a rare type of bone cancer most often seen in teenage boys.
In late July 2007, he underwent a 14-hour surgery—performed by Orthopaedic Oncologist Dr. Steven Gitelis—to remove the tumor.
A rod was inserted into Ray's leg along with plates and screws to hold the bone graft in place.
Rehab was proceeding well, but an infection developed (a significant risk for osteosarcoma patients).
In March 2008, Dr. Gitelis operated again to completely remove the bone, replacing it with a cement spacer and cleaning out the infection.
The tibia was reinserted in yet another procedure eight weeks later.
Last week, doctors gave him the go-ahead to use only one crutch, but he hasn't fully supported himself for nearly 21 months.
In an ESPN.com article by Adam Rittenberg, Ray shares his hope to not only walk without crutches, but to someday return to the gridiron.
