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Vlad Ducasse didn't have to be asked twice about helping out his former Stamford High football teammate, Jamel Sawyer. "He's a Black Knight,'' said Ducasse, an offensive tackle with the New York Jets. "That's all that matters."
Ducasse was one of many Stamford High football members, past and present, who supported Sawyer at a dinner Thursday at Giovanni's. The Stamford High School Football Boosters Club put the event together to support Sawyer, a 2008 graduate and former running back for the football team.
Sawyer, who now lives in Norwalk, became paralyzed from the waist down in November. Sawyer suffered from a Methicillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus infection, or MRSA. The staph infection created a cyst on Jamel's spinal cord. Doctors removed the cyst, fearing it could rupture. Sawyer, who lives with his half-sister Davida and her husband, Mark Lara, has since been in a wheelchair.
"I didn't think a lot of people would be here,'' Sawyer said at the dinner, which included nearly 100 guests and featured a silent auction and raffle. "I'm smiling, and I can't stop smiling. I never realized this many people cared about me."
The affair felt like a Stamford football homecoming. Stamford coach Bryan Hocter, former coach Kevin Jones and Penn State's Khairi Fortt were among the supporters. Ducasse, the first round draft pick of the Jets last year, gave Jamel a jersey and donated a football signed by all the Jets for the silent auction. "It's great that Vlad's a part of this,'' said Jamel, a Jets fan. "We're like brothers. I don't like at him like he's a pro football player. He's still my friend."
Mark Lara said Jamel was hoping Ducasse would bring a Curtis Martin autographed ball. "I told him I don't think that's happening,'' David said.
That did not deter from the evening. Sawyer's greatest asset is an upbeat personality and strong determination to play the cards he has been dealt. "It can be tough day-to-day,'' David said. "From a physical and mental standpoint. Once he gets his day going and he gets rolling, he's all good."
Events like Thursday's dinner help. Steve Samela donated $5,000 on behalf of the Justin Samela Miceli Foundation, named after his nephew who died in a car crash in 2007. Giovanni's returned $3,500 from the cost of the dinner to help Jamel. The Stamford Youth Foundation and the Allyson Rioux Foundation made contributions totaling $2,500.
Booster Club members Tom Mills and Marc Lyons, with the help of several women on the Boosters Club, put the affair together in weeks. "When they told me about it, I didn't know what to think,'' Jamel said. "There's no way I expected this many people. It's amazing. It's like a big reunion."
People interested in supporting Sawyer can send checks to the Stamford High School Football Booster Club, c/o Tom Mills, 1127 High Ridge Road No. 711, Stamford CT 06905.
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