Butte high school football player recovers from life-threatening spleen injury, finds new athletic passion

BUTTE, Mont. – A high school athlete in Butte faced a life-threatening situation after a severe injury during a football game last fall.

Preston Jensen, a senior at Butte High, experienced a ruptured spleen, a critical organ for filtering blood and maintaining a healthy immune system, during the Bulldogs' senior night game against Sentinel on Sept. 26.

Jensen recalled the moment of his injury during the game.

"The play I got injured on, I caught the ball, brought it back up, and got hit right [in the side]," Jensen said. "I was more mad that I dropped the ball than anything at that point. And then, I realized, I couldn't breathe. Something's wrong."

Despite his initial attempts to continue playing, Jensen and athletic trainer Christine Mayer soon realized he needed urgent medical attention. He underwent surgery at St. James Intermountain Health to address internal bleeding.

"There was a little blood bag, and I saw it going into my arm, and I was like, 'No way they're putting blood in me right now. What could that mean?'" Jensen said.

"They told me I got my spleen taken out, which I didn't know what that was," Jensen continued. "They were saying it ruptured, it was blown up, and there was nothing much left there."

"But I was like, 'I'm still fine though, right?' And they said no. They unwrapped me and I had a giant scar [down my front side]," Jensen added. "I was like, man, so this means no more football? And I just started crying. It was like, I'm done."

Though Jensen was devastated by the loss of football, his coach Arie Grey suggested a new athletic pursuit due to his speed: running track. Jensen was hesitant at first before embracing the new challenge.

"My first meet, I didn't run so well," Jensen said. "But I was like, 'I know I'm better than this, I know I can beat them. And the next meet, I ran a [personal record], the fastest I think I've ever ran. That's when I was like, 'Man, I kind of like this.' Just this feeling of getting past the finish line and nobody's around you."

"Obviously, now that I can't play football, it's kind of been my big thing," Jensen added. "Just focus on this, another chance, another opportunity."

In preparation for the upcoming track season, Jensen and Mayer have worked tirelessly to restore his physical condition.

"The first month was taking care of his scar and working him back into everyday life, back into a full day of school, learning how to use and engage his core properly, and how to move with his breath," Mayer said. "I've been with him every step of the way."

"I don't think I can keep up with him on the track, though," Mayer said with a laugh.

Despite the long road to recovery, Jensen's positive outlook has remained constant.

"When I was finishing up surgery, I had all these people coming up to me, and they've all got a frown on their face. I'm like, 'What are you guys frowning for? I’m still alive!'" Jensen said. "There are a lot of people that don't have that chance."

"It's just super important to me that I keep a smile on myself to keep people happy," Jensen continued. "If I can keep a smile on my face through almost dying, then they can keep a smile on their face."