Emotional first words of young Eagles fan who underwent brain surgery after saving his sister from Philadelphia plane crash
Emotional first words of young Eagles fan who underwent brain surgery after saving his sister from Philadelphia plane crash
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After 10-year-old Andre 'Trey' Howard III woke up from emergency brain surgery after saving his sister from last week's Philadelphia plane crash he only wanted to know two things - her condition and if he missed the Super Bowl. The young Eagles fan appears as eager as anyone to watch Jalen Hurts and his favorite team take on the Kansas City Chiefs in Sunday's Super Bowl. Andre's concern being on football at this moment has led many fans of the Eagles hoping the team does something to honor him before Sunday's big game.
Howard was seriously injured in the devastating Philadelphia medevac jet crash while he was on an after-school trip to Dunkin' Donuts with his family. Andre was impaled by debris while protecting his younger sister when the plane crashed near the Roosevelt Mall on Friday. When the tragedy occurred, the 10-year-old was in the car with his father and two younger siblings, ages 4 and 7, getting their 'usual strawberry doughnuts' from Dunkin' Donuts, per WPVI.
Andre 'Trey' Howard III (pictured), 10, was impaled by debris while protecting his younger sister. The 10-year-old was in the car with his father and two younger siblings, ages 4 and 7. 'As we are leaving Dunkin' Donuts parking lot, we were met with an explosion by the airplane crashing on Cottman Ave,' Trey's father, Andre Howard Jr., said on Facebook. Howard Jr. explained his son was rushed to Jefferson Torresdale Hospital for an emergency brain surgery and then transferred to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for further treatment.
Howard Jr. said the family was warned Trey might not survive his injuries, but after a successful surgery, the boy is alert and talking. 'To face death yesterday and speaking today, stepping up for his little sister, like I train him and his other little brothers to do off of instinct. He's my hero,' said Howard Jr. When the 10-year-old woke up for surgery, he immediately wanted to know if his sister was okay.
'[Trey asked] 'Daddy, did I save my sister?' Howard Jr. said. 'It had me crying.'. Howard Jr. said his son told him, 'You told us to get down. I was just trying to help my sister... next thing I know, I thought I died.'. 'He asked me, 'Daddy, what's today?' I was like, 'Monday,'' said Howard Jr. '[Trey said] 'OK, wait. We didn't play yesterday, did we?' [Howard replied] 'No, you didn't miss the Super Bowl.".
A medical transport jet with a child patient, her mother and four others aboard crashed on Friday. Andre's first words after waking up were about his sister and if he missed the Super Bowl. The Eagles have yet to say anything publicly about Trey's plea with their attention being on Sunday's Super Bowl and their quest to take down the two-time-defending NFL champions. A medical transport jet with a child patient, her mother and four others aboard crashed into a Philadelphia neighborhood shortly after takeoff Friday evening, exploding in a fireball that engulfed several homes.
All six people on board and a seventh person inside a vehicle on the ground died in the crash. Philly Mayor Cherelle Parker said two more people who were hurt on the ground have been identified on Monday, bringing the total to 24 injured. The family set up a GoFundMe page to help raise money for his medical treatment and recovery costs, passing its $30K goal on Tuesday afternoon. The top donation is from professional hockey player Evander Kane, who pledged $1,000. Kane is an NHL veteran currently playing for the Edmonton Oilers.