Hamlet Nalbandyan
GLENDALE -- Former Crescenta Valley High boys' water polo player
Carlos Pelayo might not have looked the way he did before suffering a
serious spinal injury on Sept. 17, but as far as his friends were
concerned Thursday, he was "the same old Carlos."
Pelayo attended his first boys' water polo match since the accident,
as the Falcons hosted Royal High Thursday.
Unfortunately for him and the rest of the Falcons, they were edged
out, 9-8, in sudden-death overtime, but that seemed like an afterthought.
Pelayo was the center of attention, as countless fans greeted the
18-year-old, who fractured his neck in an accident by the beach.
"He's a walking miracle," said Pete Loporchio, who coached Pelayo last
year, the final year of Pelayo's three-year varsity career at CV.
"It's just great to see him, and he hasn't changed at all. He still
has the same sense of humor and everything. It's fun to have him back."
Pelayo -- who was released from the hospital on Oct. 7 -- was wearing
a crown device on his head, also known as a halo. He says that he is
scheduled to wear the device for eight to 12 weeks.
"I'm doing real well right now," said Pelayo. "I've got all the
movement back and I'm walking around."
"The doctors said that I will have 100% recovery, but they're not sure
how long it will take."
Pelayo is involved in intense therapy sessions of four hours a week.
The sessions last two hours each on Mondays and Fridays, where he does
occupational therapy -- for the hands -- and physical therapy, which will
help him get his strength back.
"I'm just happy I'm alive," said Pelayo. "Even if I don't have a full
recovery, I'm just glad I can come back and be at the pool."
Pelayo says he plans to attend more games and be involved with the
team. Before the injury, he was the junior varsity coach.
