A high school football player who collapsed after practice last week is still fighting for his life on Tuesday.
Forest Jones, 16, a center at Locust Grove High School in Henry County, passed out and hit his head while walking to the locker room last Monday.
His doctors believe he may have had a heat stroke or heat exhaustion, his family said. A heat stroke is when the body temperature rises drastically above 104 degrees.
He is still unresponsive, his father, Glenn Jones, told the AJC on Tuesday. "It's not looking good at all," he said.
Forest Jones was transferred from a hospital in Henry County to be treated at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta.
"His liver and kidneys are still not functioning," Glenn Jones said. He said his son had to undergo surgery to relieve fluid that had built up in his brain, weakening his heart.
“I just don’t understand how it could happen to somebody so strong,” Glenn Jones said. He said he has faith that his son will recover.
"God is going to heal my son," Glenn Jones said. "He's a better doctor than any of these doctors here."
Players, coaches and the principal have visited Jones every day, his family said.
Gina Hughes, whose son Lucas plays on the team with Forrest, says Locust Grove students, educators and parents are heartbroken about his condition and are pulling for his recovery.
She gave high marks to the school's coaches and said they took great care with the student athletes. "I watch my son practice. I've seen what they do, they care about our boys."
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