ATLANTA (WXIA) – A high school football player in Georgia sacrificed his dreams to protect the one he loves the most – his mom.
De’Lon Jackson long dreamed of taking his football talents to the NFL, but that changed forever in June when the 15-year-old offensive lineman got a call from his mom as he wrapped up football practice in metro Atlanta.
His mother was turning into the school to pick him up when she was involved in a crash.
“I didn’t hear the accident, but I heard my mom saying, ‘I can’t breathe. I can’t move,’” Jackson said.
Jackson ran to her aid, but just as he got his mother out of harm’s way he was hit by another car.
The impact left Jackson lying in the middle of the road, with his legs severely injured.
His left leg was later amputated.
Now, his dreams of making it to the pros have changed, but the sacrifice is something he would not take back.
Jackson said he does not know what he would do without his mom.
“I love her to death. I don’t know what I’d do without her,” he said.
Atlanta police haven’t yet responded to a request for the full incident report. It is unclear if the driver that injured Jackson will face any charges.