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  • the reason I got hurt because adversity doesn't define you.

  • It's what you do when adversity strikes, shows what you're really about.

  • In 2018, Mackenzie Milton was all about winning.

  • Milton and John.

  • It's down.

  • Milton will keep it and he reaches in.

  • Milton, going to run touchdown ranked in the top 10, had won 23 straight games.

  • Um, in a row with him is our starting quarterback.

  • He's a guy that, in my mind a to that point should have been sitting in New York City at the Heisman ceremony.

  • Yeah, that all changed on a single snap November 23rd, 2018.

  • Four for six on third down, Milton sprinting out.

  • He's cut down 25 down on the field, and that doesn't look good.

  • The song I need the England E just like it was kind of in shock.

  • And then I just looked up.

  • Couldn't look at it anymore.

  • It looks as though maybe we're not going to just lose a quarterback for the rest of the day, but beyond your heart sinks you immediately.

  • Just think about the man, not the player, and you understand, you know the immediacy of what's going on And how in the blink of an eye ah, life can be changed.

  • Went up to him and just said, I love you in the locker room.

  • UCF medical staff check for any pulse in Milton's right leg for blood flow.

  • There was none rushed to the hospital.

  • He saw his mother, who had been at the game just before surgery.

  • I didn't cry like when I got hurt.

  • I didn't cry like when I got in the ambulance.

  • But when I saw my mom, I just broke down.

  • He just looked in my eyes and I looked in his eyes.

  • He was scared and he said, I'm in pain.

  • Mom and I just held his hand, you know, it was right there with him.

  • The violence of the hit dislocated Milton's need Tor his pop little artery cutting off blood flow and created extensive nerve damage.

  • Doctors operated to save his leg that night.

  • E didn't know if I was gonna wake up and you know my leg.

  • Be there or not.

  • They had my legs covered up and I pulled the sheet back and it was completely wrapped up.

  • I saw my toes sticking out.

  • I couldn't really see the rest of my leg.

  • And, you know, I was grateful for that.

  • The next challenge was the nerve damage to make sure Milton had movement.

  • I remember three or four days later when his toes moved just the response of the medical staff, how joyous they were with it.

  • I knew it was a big deal.

  • If your nerve doesn't come back, then there's still a risk of amputation.

  • Just the fact that my toes were wiggling a little, you know, showed that the nerve was still there and still had a chance to Hill.

  • Okay, already, football was in his mind.

  • Okay, I was just set on.

  • You know, I gotta play again.

  • Like I just I just really believe that I was going to slowly, slowly careful.

  • Don't get the bar.

  • While the first surgery was successful, the road ahead would be grueling.

  • It's a humbling feeling, like being able to run around, jump cut everywhere, toe, You know, not being able to walk, not being ableto Bathe yourself.

  • Yeah, it was hard.

  • The rehab began after nearly a year.

  • Taking steps.

  • Okay.

  • Building strength gaining motion.

  • Bilton suffered his most serious setback.

  • Pull back not a lot of people know about it.

  • I got infection in my leg, which resulted in three more surgeries in my leg.

  • At that point, I was like Damn like, maybe, you know, maybe I shouldn't be playing.

  • Maybe I shouldn't be rehabbing his knee.

  • But he continued, persisted.

  • Let's go, let's go!

  • And in August 2020 he got the news.

  • He was cleared to play.

  • I just kind of felt goose bumps.

  • You know, I felt like a freshman again, running out there.

  • I thank God is I was jogging out there, didn't walk, never walk on the field or his whole spirit was back.

  • And not that football completes him, because that's the furthest from the truth.

  • But you could see and feel the joy this season.

  • While one of his best friends, Nights quarterback Dylan Gabriel, is among the nations passing leaders, Milton has run the scout team in practice, helping in every way he can.

  • To Mackenzie Milton.

  • There is a reason for the challenge to show others a purpose on a path forward.

  • If I could be a motivation of kids that you know, go through something tough, have a tough injury or anything for that matter, you can overcome it with hard work, prayer.

  • Whatever you believe in, e believe I'll play football game.

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the reason I got hurt because adversity doesn't define you.

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