After being injured in early May, WSU defensive end Cory Mackay returned home from the hospital last week, said Head Football Coach Paul Wulff.

The freshman was driving home to Redmond on May 7 when his car flipped over, seven miles west of Washtucna. According to the accident report, Mackay reported he lost most of the feeling below his waist.

Mackay was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where a surgery was performed to fuse vertebrae.

Mackay recently regained four inches of feeling in his back, Wulff said, which is a sign of progress.

“This is the first step,” he said.

Mackay’s goal is to return to school in the fall, Wulff said. Though Mackay will likely never play football again, he will still be a large part of the team.

“There is no question that he will be around,” he said. “He has physical limitations but he will be around the program as much as he can.” One of the biggest parts of Mackay’s recovery has been the huge outpouring of support, Wulff said.

“This family is extremely overwhelmed, in a good way, by the tremendous amount of support they have received,” he said.

A foundation has not yet been set up, but donations can be mailed to PO Box 814; Redmond, WA 98073-0814. Envelopes need to be addressed to the Cory Mackay Fund, as well as checks payable to Cory Mackay Fund.

from staff reports