FRISCO, TX – In a shocking accident, a 13-year-old boy in Texas is now paralyzed after breaking his spine while trying to evade a wasp. Semyon Williams Jr., known as SJ, was swimming with his friend at a community pool in Old Orchard Park in Frisco when they came across the insect. In an attempt to dodge the hornet, the boys jumped into the pool, with Williams diving headfirst into the shallow end, which ended up in a catastrophic injury.
Anya Camper, SJ’s mother, recounts that her son’s friend initially thought SJ was fooling around but soon realized the gravity of the situation when SJ wasn’t moving. Williams was swiftly rushed to Children’s Health Hospital in Dallas, where he underwent immediate surgery.
A Pediatric Neurosurgeon at Children’s Hospital, Bruno Braga, who did not operate on SJ but is aware of such injuries, informed that the boy fractured two vertebrae (the 4th and 5th cervical vertebrae) and parts in front and behind the spinal canal, which holds the spinal cord.
Camper, who lauded her son’s friend for saving SJ’s life, is devastated by the prognosis of her son likely being a quadriplegic and prays for a ‘miracle.’ SJ’s family, sticking together through the ordeal and taking it a day at a time, are hopeful and trusting in their faith for a miracle.
A GoFundMe account has been set up by a family member, Lewis Camper, to assist the family with medical expenses. It has so far raised over $32,000 towards their $100,000 goal.