Fifteen-year-old stabbing victim DeAndre Johnson returned to the football field Saturday night, his first time playing since the terrifying ordeal that nearly killed him back in March.
The Miami Killian Senior High School student spent weeks in the hospital after a 17-year-old female student stabbed him, puncturing his right chest plate, lungs, and severing an artery.
"I'm in so much pain, my chest, every breath hurts. It's just constant," Johnson said as he recuperated.
His attorney, Judd Rosen, said Johnson persevered to make a full recovery.
"He's looking forward to going back to playing football," Rosen said earlier this month.
Although inclement weather delayed the game, and a blackout resulted in it being called off before halftime, Johnson was just grateful to be back on the field with his friends.
"It's a great feeling to be back with my teammates," he said. "That first hit felt great, it's all coming back to me."
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The defendant accused of stabbing Johnson accepted a plea deal from prosecutors in juvenile court, pleading guilty to aggravated battery with great bodily harm. She will serve out her sentence in a maximum security facility until she turns 21, or she could be released sooner, depending on her psychological assessments by experts.
Johnson said he doesn't harbor any anger toward the person who injured him. Now, he's just looking forward, eager to return to normal life.
"They said I had a very slim chance of surviving," he said. "I'm just thankful for God."
