Freshman baseball player Chance Veazey is paralyzed from the waist down, Dr. Donald Peck Leslie announced Thursday from the Shepherd Center in Atlanta.

Veazey has been unable to walk since he was in a motor scooter accident on Oct. 28 after leaving the Miller Learning Center around 11 p.m.

Veazey has been rehabilitating at the Shepherd Center since he was transferred there on Nov. 5 after successful back surgery at Athens’ St. Mary’s Hospital Oct. 30.

Leslie said Veazey’s injury was to the 10th thoracic vertebra of the spinal cord, but also stated that, with today’s technology, it remains to be seen if the paralysis is permanent.

Head coach David Perno echoed those sentiments Thursday night.

“Nothing’s permanent,” Perno said. “You can read it what you want, but right now it’s from his belly button down and he doesn’t have any movement or feeling.”

Despite the life-altering injury, Perno said Veazey has been keeping a positive attitude through the battle.

“He’s been the strongest of the bunch, there’s no doubt. He’s got a great family,” Perno said. “It’s been tragic, it’s been difficult, but he’s hung in there and been a trooper through it all.”

Leslie noted Veazey’s upper extremities are perfectly fine, he is breathing on his own and is able to get in and out of bed. The hope is that Veazey will be in the Shepherd Center day program by mid-to-late December, a program that will allow him the chance to live next to the center and come over every day for a therapy session.

“They’ll work on maintaining his upper body strength and mentally getting him to cope with the situation right now,” Perno said.

The Diamond Dogs team has rallied around Veazey and has shown its support for a player who had yet to don a uniform in an actual game.

“Our kids have hung together and … have supported him and will continue to,” Perno said. “He’s still a part of our program and always will be.”