Tra’Jen Anderson has always been one to sweat and cramp more than the average high school football player. The North Forrest junior has been no stranger to either since his ninth grade year.
It’s all a part of Anderson’s process, one that’s allowed him to become one of the Eagles’ top defensive players at cornerback. Rhabdomyolysis, on the other hand, is not. A quick Wikipedia search shows that Rhabdomyolysis is basically when damaged skeletal muscle breaks down rapidly.
Even though Anderson is still unsure of how to pronounce it correctly, it’s a word he will never forget.
“The doctor said it’s basically bad protein going to my blood and breaking down my acids,” Anderson said. “Like when I work out or am outside sweating real bad.”
Anderson experienced it in North Forrest’s first game of the season five weeks ago against Lumberton. He knew something was off when his back started cramping, something that’s never happened to him before.
No, this was not your average cramp. Following the game, Anderson was taken to the hospital where he would receive the diagnosis. Being that he was extremely dehydrated and according to doctors, ‘Not far from losing a kidney’, Anderson was there for three days. None were dominated by thoughts of Rhabdomyolysis and his condition.
“Honestly, I’d say I had more pain because my team lost.”
Primarily a defensive player the previous two seasons, Anderson was tasked with playing some offense this year, mainly because of the Eagles’ lack of depth at running back. Eagle head coach Anthony Dillon believes Anderson’s newfound workload could very well be responsible. Truth is, Dillon also believes the junior is too good to just limit himself to defense.
“Tra’Jen is just such a great player for us,” Dillon said. “His IQ of the game is very sharp, and he’s a playmaker.”
About four weeks after the Lumberton game, Anderson was finally cleared to make his return last Friday night against Enterprise. Turned out to be a return for the ages, as the junior scored a touchdown in his first game back, helping the Eagles (3-2) win their third in a row.
“It was a thrill to see him out there again,” Dillon said.
Doctors say a steady diet of water, Powerade and Pedialyte will keep Anderson on the field for the Eagles. No doubt music to his and Dillon’s ears.
“We’re glad to have him back,” Dillon concluded. “You can tell, two or three games we played without him, that he was very missed, especially on the defensive side.”
