“Willie is getting better each day.”
The report from Speedy Bevins with MetroNews Affiliate WVOW Radio on the ongoing recovery of Willie Akers, a legendary high school basketball coach from Logan County, who was seriously injured in a fall at the Charleston Civic Center almost two weeks ago.
“Willie still has a long way to go and the family recognizes that and I think there are times that Willie does recognize that,” Bevins reported on Monday’s MetroNews Talkline.
Akers, 75, had his hands in his pockets when he fell, face first, onto the Civic Center’s floor. He has been hospitalized at Charleston Area Medical Center General Hospital since then and had surgery last Monday, February 18th, to repair a broken nose and fractured C6 vertebra .
Bevins says family members are hoping that Akers will be able to make a full recovery but, he says, everyone understands that may not be possible because of the nature of Akers’ injuries.
“Willie is really advancing in his recovery faster than what, maybe, was anticipated.” Bevins says he was told Akers was able to wiggle his right toes, at the request of doctors, on Saturday.
Akers coached basketball at Logan High for more than 20 years. A graduate of Mullens High School, he played basketball at West Virginia University from 1958 to 1960.
He currently serves as a Logan County Commissioner.