LIBERTY, Mo. (KCTV) - A high school football player with big dreams suffered a horrible injury in his first game.

Ju’Lius “JuJu” Byers is a freshman at Liberty High School and a defensive back for the football team. On Sept. 3, during the second quarter of his first game, things took a near-deadly turn.

“You’re there to support your kid at a football game...all it takes is one play, and that one play unfortunately happened to us,” said his dad, William Byers IV.

“In his collision, JuJu fractured three vertebrae and ruptured his spinal cord,” Byers IV said. “He suffered a concussion, as well.”

Juju was partially paralyzed and rushed to Children’s Mercy Hospital, where he underwent an eight-hour surgery.

“Your whole life comes to a halt, right then and there, there’s nothing you can do

See Full Page