Michael Lois thanks those who supported him during recovery
By Heather Ruenz
Staff writer
Sept. 16, 2018 is a day Michael Lois and his parents will never forget. That’s the day Michael, of Elkhorn, who was 16 at the time, suffered an accident while jumping into a friend’s 4-foot deep pool, striking his head, neck and shoulder on the pool floor.
Shortly after the accident, Michael explained, as soon as his head hit the bottom, everything stopped and time slowed down. He couldn’t move his left leg so struggled to get his head out of the water but when he did, he yelled for help.
His friends got him out and he ended up at Children’s Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery followed by months of physical therapy.
Fast-forward nine months later and despite the odds, Michael has recovered and the 2020 University of Iowa commit still has plans to do just that – play football.
“Other than no contact, I’m clear. I finished physical therapy and the weight restrictions have been lifted,” he said in a recent interview.
The focus of that interview was by and large about something else the Lois family won’t forget: how many people supported them during this trying time in their lives.
“After the accident I got really frustrated and lost my faith. But eventually I accepted that maybe I wasn’t put on this earth to play football and be entertaining,” Michael said. “Maybe I’m here to inspire people and that’s what I want to do.”
He will attend Iowa whether he plays football or not and plans to head there after he graduates in December from Elkhorn Area High School.
“I’ll officially sign with the Hawkeyes in December but I also want to get there as soon as I can. Part of it is just to get going on the next step but I also want to get there to get involved with the Children’s Hospital there, which faces the football stadium,” Michael said.
In September, one year after his accident, Michael hopes to get the all clear for physical contact from his doctors.
Dreams haven’t changed
Michael’s parents, Matt and Hayley, fully support his future plans.
“As a parent you always want to protect your children. But Michael loves football so much and wants to be on the field. It’s as simple as that,” Hayley said.
Hayley said she will never forget seeing her son at the hospital, with pain and tingling in his hands and arms.
“He didn’t want us to touch him and insisted on doing things himself. He was very determined and he kept me and my husband strong throughout it, that’s for sure,” she said.
Michael said he didn’t always feel strong. For example, when he started physical therapy in the hospital, he said the pain was so bad he would pass out.
Though there’s always a risk of injury, Hayley said Michael is not any higher of a risk than anyone else, the doctors told them.
“I asked if the bone grows back as strong and the doctor said it grows back as strong if not stronger than before,” Hayley said.
Michael – who has always planned to major in sports studies at college, which could include personal training or coaching careers, for example – said he has clear goals.
“I’ve been working on kicking because you never know. I plan to play but if I can’t – or even if I can – I want to coach some day,” he said.
Speaking of coaches, the Lois family said the Elkhorn Area High School and Iowa coaches have been supportive all along, before and since his accident.
“Part of the reason we chose Iowa is because it truly felt like a family to us. And since the accident, even more so,” Hayley said.
In an effort to gain his strength back, Michael has been training at Next Level in Waukesha.
“They work with your physical therapist to work around and within your injury. I’ve definitely gotten a lot stronger there and gained a lot of muscle plus some of the weight back,” he said.
He never gave up
If he wasn’t going to pursue football, Michael said his other dream was to become a Navy Seal.
“Their motto, ‘the only easy day was yesterday,’ was always in the back of my mind. That’s why I never panicked,” he said.
Michael said he has tried to keep busy by lifting weights and working out and his friends helped him keep his mind off of things. He has also stayed in close contact with other Iowa recruits before and since his accident.
“They’ve also been a great group throughout this,” he said.
Hayley said his friends and people in the community have been more supportive than she can put into words.
“So many of his friends came up to Milwaukee to see him at the hospital. That really meant a lot to him and us. And the people who have reached out to us all along, to check in, let us know they’re still praying for us, it’s been amazing,” she said.
And it wasn’t just the Elkhorn community that stepped forward.
“The other area football teams and cheerleaders wearing his jersey number to the other coaches we play against reaching out to us. Everyone has been so caring,” Hayley said.
Giving back
Michael said one of the lessons he’s learned from this process is how important it is to spread love, not hate.
“I’m so thankful for the community I was in when this happened. I’ve been through stuff but everyone is fighting a battle. I also feel bad that I wasn’t myself after the accident. I was angry for a while so really want to be positive from now on,” he said.
A few weeks ago Michael visited Elkhorn Area Middle School – where he hand delivered some footballs he bought with his own money.
“We never got to play football at recess and I want them to do that,” he said with a smile.
Later that same day he made another special stop – at West Side Elementary School.
“I had gone there with some of my teammates to read to students and then play outside with them two days before my accident,” he explained.
So, on May 31, Michael did the same thing again – read a book and spent some time outside shooting hoops with the kids.
“You can always find the positives in any situation and if you have great support (from) family, friends and the community, that helps you get through it,” he said. “I wanted those kids to see that if you never give up, miracles can happen.”
