Hope for the future

Former Jet Byrd visits with paralyzed Chinese gymnast

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Posted: Friday July 24, 1998 04:08 PM

Byrd spent 90 minutes with Sang at Nassau County Medical Center, as she is being treated with SYGEN, an drug that helped Byrd recover AP

HEMPSTEAD, New York (AP) -- Dennis Byrd sat at the New York Jets' training camp Friday, within sight of Nassau Coliseum, where Chinese gymnast Sang Lan was paralyzed in a practice fall.

Byrd knew exactly what the 17-year-old Goodwill Games athlete was going through.

Nearly six years ago, Byrd collided with teammate Scott Mersereau in an NFL game and was temporarily paralyzed with a fractured vertebra. While he has made a recovery that was termed "miraculous" by many standards, Byrd never played football again.

But at least he can walk and fish and hunt and play with his children. Doctors say Sang is unlikely to ever walk again.

Byrd spent 90 minutes meeting with Sang at Nassau County Medical Center, speaking to her through an interpreter. Sang is being treated with SYGEN, an experimental drug that helped Byrd recover so well.

"I encourage anyone who has the opportunity to take GM1," Byrd said, referring to another name for SYGEN, which helps regenerate the nerve endings in the spinal column. "It is very encouraging. I had a very severe injury and certainly think SYGEN played a role in my recovery.

"Doctors are characteristically stoic about those things. I'm glad to see she is on that treatment so quickly."

Byrd had been invited to visit Sang and was accompanied by Zhao Yuxin, the vice president of the Chinese Gymnastic Association and secretary general of the Chinese Sports Acrobatics Association.

"It is an emotional time anytime you visit people who have undergone something so traumatic," Byrd said.

"This morning's news was the first time I was able to see anything of substance about the young lady," said Byrd, now an advocate for spinal paralysis research and treatment. "I try to help out however I can."  

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