Vol. 18, No. 30	May 6, 1999

Teamwork in action
On-field accident develops into meaningful friendship

Last July, Andy Shay, assistant men's lacrosse coach and a graduate student at UD, was doing what he loves best--playing lacrosse. Beside him on the field, playing for the New Castle team in the First State Summer League, was teammate Eric Potts. In the flash it takes to play the fast-paced game, Shay's man pushed by him. Potts went after the man and the two players collided. They hit each other hard. It was the last run Potts would ever make. The hit broke his neck and he was instantly paralyzed from the chest down. Watching the accident from 2 feet away, Shay was shaken and knew that his life had changed, too.

Potts, a graduate of William Penn High School, was then a student at Wilmington College with a part-time job at Amazon.com. He has no medical insurance. He is an only child and his mother, Marie, who raised him on her own, suffers from Parkinson's disease and fibromyalgia, which causes chronic muscle pain, tremors and short-term memory loss. Relying heavily on her only son at the time of the accident, she was just recovering from a successful battle with breast cancer. Shay's heart went out to Eric and Marie.

In the months following the accident, as Potts convalesced first in the shock trauma unit of Christiana Care and then at the Kessler Rehabilitation Center in New Jersey, he and Shay grew close. Not surprisingly, Shay was one of many in the local lacrosse community who spearheaded a fall lacrosse-a-thon fundraiser to help Potts and his mother defray some of their astronomical medical costs. Two others who led the effort are UD alums Stephen DiGennaro, '94CHEP, and Steven Penoza, '98EG, both of New Castle.

Using personal contacts, web sites and listserves on the Internet, the three rounded up more than 1,600 lacrosse players from ages 11 to 63. Some traveled from as far away as Texas for the event held Nov. 14 at Banning Park in Newport.

Potts was there, too. It was his first time outside a hospital since the accident. At that time, he had limited use of his arms and no use of his hands. Since then, he has taken an experimental drug that has enabled him to gain some movement in two fingers and may lead to more improvement.

Everyone paid $30 to play in a game, get a T-shirt and visit with the many celebrity professional lacrosse players who donated their time to attend. Including miscellaneous donations and profit from food sold during the day, more than $51,000 was raised. Additionally, an anonymous donor surprised Potts by giving his mother the keys to the specially equipped van used to drive him to the event.

The lacrosse-a-thon was organized in about two months, Shay said, and many doubted it could be done successfully in such a short time. It was a nerve-racking time and his grades suffered. Right up until the morning of the event no one was sure how many people would show up.

"It's the sort of thing that could have been a logistical nightmare," Shay said, "but everyone who participated was just happy and in a good mood, and it all worked out."

Volunteers began lining four lacrosse fields about 4 a.m., being sure to place the lacrosse-a-thon's logo that incorporated the number 6 Potts used to wear in the center of the best field.

All participating players were guaranteed a game and there was a break in the middle of the day for everyone to watch the premier game that included the professional players. A check presentation to Potts and his mother took place at midday.

"It was the most amazing event," Shay said. "Everyone was happy to help out and it wasn't unusual for people who had already paid the registration fee to walk up to one of us and give us another donation, saying they wanted to do more."

Brine Lacrosse, an equipment company, donated lacrosse gear, and anyone who donated $250 or more could outfit themselves for a year with gifts from Brine, Shay said.

As of this writing, Potts is in the Magee Rehabilitation Center in Philadelphia, where he is working to develop his triceps and is able to use a manual wheelchair. He will be there another two to six weeks while volunteers finish renovating his home near Bear to accommodate his special needs.

Early in April on her web page, Marie Potts wrote, "... Eric has had his ups and downs mentally and physically, and we almost lost him a few times. Dysreflexia is very dangerous, and we made our third trip to the emergency room March 21. Eric's blood pressure dropped to 56/25; he hardly had a pulse. He made it though; he's a fighter.

"There is so much to deal with physically and mentally for him. We want you to keep us in your prayers...."

Shay, meanwhile, is busy writing papers and completing the coursework for his master's degree.

Shay, DiGennaro and Penoza hope to make the lacrosse-a-thon an annual event and are already planning ahead for this year. Those who want to learn more about Potts can visit his mother's web site at <http://www.delanet.com/~mp317912/Eric/material_and_supply_ donations_an.htm> Donations can be sent to the Eric Potts Fund at P.O. Box 12503, Wilmington, DE 19850.

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