Injured Bishop Feehan hockey player A.J. Quetta moved from Massachusetts General Hospital to Shepherd Rehabilitation Center in Atlanta earlier this week, and on Saturday he shared his first video message since suffering a serious spinal cord injury during a game on Jan. 26.
"I would just like to thank you for your support," Quetta said in a video shared on Twitter by Joe McDonald of the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. "What’s been going on lately is crazy. I don’t have words to describe how awesome you people are and how supportive you’ve been for me. You all give me a reason to keep pushing and keep fighting. It’s awesome."
Quetta also had a special thanks for his Bishop Feehan teammates, who have formed "AJ's Army" to support him and help raise money, and who showed up at MGH at 6 a.m. Tuesday morning to send him off to Atlanta.
"I’d like to thank the boys from the team, especially," Quetta said. "I miss them like crazy. I would do anything to get back on the ice with you guys."
A GoFundMe page set up by Quetta's family has raised over $900,000 to help pay for his medical care. The Greg Hill Foundation's fundraiser for Quetta has also raised over $150,000, while the Boston Bruins Foundation's 50/50 raffle to benefit Quetta raised over $300,000.
Watch Quetta's video message below: