HOLDENVILLE – Oske Lowe (Mvskoke) has now celebrated 10 years of resilience and recovery after surviving a traumatic brain injury sustained during his senior year of high school. Lowe and his family were honored at Oske Night, the Holdenville home game against Wewoka on Friday, Sept. 4. Holdenville trounced Wewoka 62-20. According to Lowe’s mother, Nancy Randall (Mvskoke), Lowe’s healing journey has been tough. However, she is thankful he is currently in good health.
“It’s just trying sometimes, especially the first five years,” Randall said. “We have been living day by day.”
During Oske Night, the Lowe family was recognized in the stands, and the story of Lowe’s injury was shared. The night was a small reunion where Lowe saw former high school teachers, coaches, and students.
Oske’s injury
Lowe sustained a traumatic brain injury during the second game of his senior year on Sept. 1, 2016. He complained of a headache during the third quarter and was taken out of the game.
Lowe was taken to the University of Oklahoma Medical Center, where he spent three weeks in the trauma intensive care unit. He transferred to Bethany Children’s Hospital and spent seven months in recovery.
He was diagnosed with a subdural hematoma, a head injury that causes bleeding. He was 17 years old at the time.
Lowe has had multiple operations. He had surgery to remove a blood clot and had a tracheostomy. He is nonverbal and can not use his legs. Lowe now has a full-time nurse available to assist him at his bedside.
Today, Randall reports that Oske is healthy and stable. He has not been hospitalized since he was discharged from the Bethany Children’s Center. While he caught Covid-19 more than once, he made a full recovery each time.
“He’s doing really well,” Randall said. “His body is healthy. He’s still nonverbal and immobile, but he knows what’s going on. He knows his surroundings. All in all, he’s in good health.”
Holdenville’s first home game after Lowe’s injury saw a packed stadium with attendees wearing green shirts in his support- green is the color of brain injury awareness.
During the game, Holdenville beat Coalgate 34-26.
Lowe became an honorary graduate of Holdenville High School and graduated alongside his classmates in 2017.
Lowe has two younger brothers who now play football for Holdenville. Tenetke is a senior, and RJ is a junior. For Lowe’s family, Sept. 1 is a bittersweet date on the calendar. It was the day Lowe sustained his injury, and it is RJ’s birthday.
RJ and Tenetke were both under the age of 10 when their brother sustained his injury. The injury made Randall hesitant to sign up her younger boys to play football.
“We just had to overcome that fear,” Randall said. “There’s still a fear there for me, but brain injuries can happen not just in football, but also in car wrecks. I didn’t want to hold them back. I’m glad I didn’t because they do really excellent on the field.”
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, symptoms of traumatic brain injuries include headache, dizziness, confusion, and fatigue that can resolve over time. Frustration and irritability can develop as well.
Randall advises everyone to take traumatic brain injuries seriously and report any symptoms that appear, no matter how small they seem. She warns others not to delay seeking medical attention.
“Anytime that something doesn’t seem right, approach your coach or someone who’s available that is going to listen and let them know your symptoms,” Randall said.
For updates on Lowe, his journey, and his family, Randall manages a public Facebook page, Oske’s Journey, a personal blog that documents their experiences.
