ECU’s Parker Byrd Shares God’s Light Despite Leg Amputation Ahead of College Debut

Published: January 19, 2023

ECU’s Parker Byrd Shares God’s Light Despite Leg Amputation Ahead of College Debut

By Movieguide® Staff

As a freshman in high school, shortstop Parker Byrd knew he wanted to play for East Carolina in college.

After becoming the 75th top ranked player in the country, committing to ECU, Byrd was more than ready to start his collegiate career and live out his dream on the baseball field.

However, after a boating accident on July 23, Byrd underwent 22 surgeries and the amputation of his right leg below the knee.

Sports Spectrum reported:

On that fateful day, Parker and his friends had taken a boat out on Bath Creek in Beaufort County, N.C. It was a normal day filled with laughs, swimming and tubing, until Parker and one of his friends were thrown off of an inner tube being pulled behind the boat. Parker’s friend was able to get back on the boat, but Parker wasn’t as lucky. He was tangled in the rope that connected the inner tube to the boat. The rope then caught in the propeller, which began pulling Parker toward the boat, and soon into the spinning blades that cut his legs.

Parker was airlifted to East Carolina Health Medical Center and received care from several specialists and doctors. Mitzi, Parker’s mom, says the medical team worked relentlessly to save Parker’s leg, but the injury was severe enough that amputation was the only option.

Byrd’s father, Jeff, who had helped him train throughout high school said that despite his circumstances, he remained hopeful.

“That’s just who he is. …There’s no situation that really gets him down, because that’s not how he approaches anything,” Jeff said.

During his recovery, Byrd was forced to spend days in the ECU Health Medical Center ICU, where he was only allowed two visitors a day, one at a time.

“I didn’t even realize this until after I was out of the hospital,” Parker said. “They didn’t even really see each other because they would flip-flop back and forth.”

“It was weird because the TV would be on but there was no sound,” Jeff said of his son’s time in ICU. “He loves music, but he never played music. We really sat there for three weeks really in silence.”

After the hospital moved him to another unit, they allowed Byrd four visitors which included his parents, his sister Gracen, and his girlfriend Alaina.

However, he still missed the rest of his family and friends, including his younger sister Brinley who he ended up not seeing for two weeks while in the ICU.

After months of intensive care, physical therapy, and attending ECU practices but unable to play, Byrd is back to swinging a bat again.

While he won’t be able to play any games this season, the Byrd family said that they were grateful for the prayers of friends and family and for the opportunity to preach the goodness of God.

“He is the reason I am here today,” Parker said. “God definitely chooses people to shine His light through, and I am honored that I get the chance to share His light.”