IRON MOUNTAIN, Mich. (WJMN) – For Iron Mountain Quarterback Ian Marttila and his dad, Iron Mountain’s head coach Robin Marttila, an unusual day again in July of 2022 is one that will have higher long-term penalties for them and their household than they may’ve imagined.
I get a name from my spouse. She will’t actually discuss, then she broke down,” Coach Marttila mentioned. “I knew was very critical at that time and she or he mentioned ‘Ian has been in an accident. It’s very dangerous’. So, lengthy story brief, he acquired in a garden mower accident, went to the hospital right here in Iron Mountain, acquired airlifted to Milwaukee Youngsters’s Hospital that day. Over the following 5 to 6 days had three surgical procedures, had a bunch of damaged bones. Massive gash within the prime of his proper foot. And that was simply the beginning of a protracted journey that we knew we have been in at that cut-off date.”
Whereas slicing the grass at his grandpa’s residence in Iron Mountain, Ian’s foot slipped beneath the blade of the garden mower.
“In his entrance yard, he has this this steep hill and I used to be pushing the lawnmower up and my arms and every little thing was getting drained,” Ian mentioned. “So I made a decision to only go up the hill and convey the garden mower down and pull it again up. As quickly as I did that, my accident occurred. My foot went below the garden mower, sadly. I form of slipped again on my on my proper facet, and my left hand form of went up that led the garden mower to carry up a bit. So, I suppose my foot form of slipped below.”
Whereas Ian was on the way in which to the hospital in minutes, the harm was critical. Within the second, it wasn’t clear how it might impression him within the long-run.
I simply bear in mind trying down on my foot and I simply noticed this massive gash,” Ian mentioned. “I do know it didn’t look good. I didn’t actually I didn’t know what it was on the time, however I can simply bear in mind seeing an enormous gash. I began yelling from my grandpa and two of his neighbors heard me they usually came to visit and form of calmed me down and helped me. My grandpa referred to as 911 they usually have been there in two minutes, in order that was good.”
“Very fortunate to have his foot or hold his foot, all his toes down there,” Coach Marttila mentioned. “It was only a freak accident that occurred as he was slicing grass. You already know, 15-year-old child cuts grass in the summertime and freak accidents occur. I suppose folks have been looking for us and it turned out to be a protracted street, however a street we acquired via. and now we’re shifting on to greater and hopefully higher issues.”
Whereas the worst case had been prevented, it was nonetheless unclear if Ian might return to athletics, which had been an enormous a part of life all through his childhood.
“Plenty of issues undergo your thoughts, lots of people attain out,” Coach Marttila mentioned. “You don’t know the place the journey is gonna take you, however at the moment you realize it’s going to be a protracted journey and the assist we had from our group, from our household, from our associates, simply great. Completely great.”
“It motivated me to be a greater athlete, be a greater individual, do issues I didn’t suppose I might do earlier than, work more durable,” Ian mentioned. “I simply take into consideration what occurred that day and simply use that as motivation to do one thing that I actually wish to do.”
Now over a 12 months later and again on the gridiron, Ian and the Mountaineers have massive targets for the 2023 season. Whereas his private journey is one for the storybooks, the Marttila’s are pleased to have it within the rearview mirror whereas Ian may be again as a part of the workforce, a part of the collective group working collectively in direction of a standard purpose.
“He’s performed quarterback since fifth grade. You already know, he’s executed nicely with it,” Coach Marttila mentioned. “He’s dealt with it nicely and we’re hoping that continues. We’re attempting to place him ready to achieve success, similar to each each different child now we have. “
“I used to be actually, actually excited. I didn’t actually appear to have any nerves. I used to be simply actually pumped up. Simply pleased to be again on the market with my associates,” Ian mentioned. “They’re there for me day by day. Pat me on the again and say ‘Hey, you bought this’ or one thing like that and it simply inspired me to do higher.
“He dealt with it higher than I did, dealt with it higher than his mom dealt with it, and he’s a child,” Coach Marttila mentioned. “He’s resilient. He cares, and we’re happy with him.”
