Scotland High grad and ECU commit in battle of his life after having part of leg amputated
Posted August 8, 2022
Laurinburg, N.C. — Parker Byrd was set to be an incoming freshman on the East Carolina baseball team in the coming months.
The Scotland High graduate figured to be entering into what would be a cherished part of his young life in a few weeks, starting classes at the same university he committed to before even playing in a high school game.
A recent setback has put those aspirations on hold.
Byrd was in a boating accident on July 23 in Bath while enjoying some vacation time with friends. His mom, Mitzi Byrd, said he was tubing when, after falling out of the tube, the boat that was pulling him somehow became engaged in reverse when he was just a few feet behind it. The tubing rope pulled Parker into the propeller, causing serious damage to his right leg and left thigh. He was driven to a medical facility in Washington, then air-lifted to ECU Medical Center in Greenville, where he still was on Monday.
A weeks-long hospital stay has followed with uncertainty and tough times surrounding Parker and his loved ones.
Mitzi said Parker is doing as well as he can, trying to stay upbeat. Doctors are trying to salvage his right knee and are feeling more optimistic about doing so after Monday’s surgery. With certain muscles not getting the necessary blood flow, doctors determined part of the right leg would have to be removed. He had to have his lower right leg amputated last week.
With all the family connections to ECU, Byrd committed to play for the Pirates during his freshman year of high school. Both his parents went to ECU, as did his uncle.
News of Parker's injury has been on the minds of friends and family, along with those at ECU and Scotland High. Those around Laurinburg have shown support in various ways. A prayer vigil was held at McCoy Field for Parker's recovery. The batting cages at Scotland High have "Parker Strong" painted on the wall and some Scotland County schools have displayed uplifting messages.
Needless to say, it's been an emotionally turbulent couple of weeks for the family and Parker as they hope for the best. He underwent another surgery on Monday morning, his 10th since the accident.
In a positive development, Mitzi said Parker got to go outside for the first time in two weeks on Sunday and hug his younger sister. She's provided friends with daily updates of Parker's progress on Facebook, garnering support from locals and ECU fans.
Mitzi said Parker's "optimistic and upbeat at this time."
"He’s ready to move forward and see what the future holds," she told WRAL News.