Christ School, community step up to support Sidney Gibbs

ARDEN - Stephanie Gibbs watched in horror as her oldest son was carted off the football field Saturday afternoon.

Christ School senior running back Sidney Gibbs was taken to the hospital that day, where he was diagnosed with a tibial shaft fracture in his right leg — an injury that effectively ended his high school career.

Gibbs had rushed for 2,029 yards in nine games during the 2017 season. He ran for 241 yards in the Greenies' 2018 opener before getting hurt in the Week 2 game against Houston Episcopal.

"It was heart-wrenching," Stephanie Gibbs said. "I wasn't prepared for it. He (Sidney) wasn't prepared for it. I was waiting for to wake up from the nightmare but it didn't happen."

More:Christ School loses top running back for the season

Doctors placed a intramedullary rod in Gibbs' leg, giving him a 12- to 16-week recovery time table. He was allowed to go home over the weekend, but his mother was saddled with an enormous hospital bill.

Gibbs is a single mother of four. 

On Monday morning, she started a GoFundMe page, asking for help with a $4,000 bill.

"I'm not able to work at this time because I have to be here with my son, yet bills aren't stopping and medical expenses are growing tremendously as well," she wrote on the GoFundMe page. "Anything helps and is greatly appreciated. Thank you kindly and God bless. 

By the evening, they money had been raised. And then some.

By Tuesday morning, the page had raised $4,780.

"It's just an amazing thing," Gibbs said through short sobs. "It reminds me of what a good kid Sidney is on and off the field and how many people care about him."

The majority of the donations have come from the Christ School community. Heath Shuler, a former NFL quarterback and U.S. representative for North Carolina's 11th Congressional District, donated $1,000 to Gibbs. 

His son, Christ School quarterback Navy Shuler, also donated $100 of his own money. Christ School sophomore lineman Ian Adams added $25 to the cause. 

"I'm so thankful to the Christ School community," Sidney Gibbs said. "We feel so loved. No one had to donate a dime to us, but they did. They went above and beyond."

It was the second time an injury has kept Gibbs off the field. He sat out his junior season at Owen High School with a knee injury and transferred to Christ School in 2016 to reclaim that year.

Gibbs will return to Christ School next week where he will use a golf cart to get around to class. His doctors said he will make a full recovery and should be able to begin training again during the holidays. 

He holds college offers from Shaw University, North Carolina Central and Winston-Salem State University.

"He looked at me the other day, and he said, 'You know mom, I have to understand that this is all part of God's plan. There is a reason behind all of this.' That's a pretty great perspective from an 18-year-old."

If you'd like to donate to the Gibbs family and help with future medical expenses, visit www.gofundme.com/er35n-hoping-for-a-miracle.