NIU's Butler says doctors saved his life
DEKALB — Walking haltingly and slightly hunched over, but without needing direct aid, Devon Butler entered Northern Illinois' football meeting room Friday and expressed his thankfulness to many people.
Neither last nor least on the sophomore linebacker's long list? The doctors and nurses at Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb and OSF Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford.
“I owe them my life,” Butler said. “I want to thank them as well because they're truly lifesavers.”
On the night of April 5, Butler was visiting a friend at a DeKalb apartment when he was shot — an unintended victim of what police declared to be a drug deal gone awry. Two NIU students charged with attempted murder remain held on $1 million bond.
Butler, the Huskies' No. 2 tackler last season, suffered a collapsed lung and spent several days at OSF Saint Anthony in critical condition.
The Pembroke Pines, Fla., native received his release Tuesday, but he's months away from returning to the field as anything other than an unofficial coach.
Butler, who'll take a redshirt for the 2011 season, will stick with the basics for six months before starting rehab.
“(Right now is) just more basically getting back on my feet, walking around,” Butler said. “Getting my strength back. Doing things like eating. Doing a lot of breathing exercises and things like that.
Linebackers coach Tom Matukewicz and his wife, Lenna, have taken in Butler while he regains mobility.
Matukewicz admitted to setting up a Playstation for Butler's benefit, though playtime gets mixed with reminders to use the breathing machine that helps expand his lung.
“He PR'd yesterday,” said Matukewicz, suggesting Butler does more exercises each day.
Butler's ordeal accelerated and cemented his relationship with new head coach Dave Doeren, too.
“I'm a linebacker guy and he's a linebacker, so I took immediate attention to my man here,” Doeren said. “I told him I was going to be on him because I saw greatness in him from the first day I got here. That's how it's going to be until he leaves.”
Everyone believes Butler's case will wind up being greatness delayed — not greatness denied.
“Never take things for granted because you never know what situations life can deal you,” Butler said. “It just made me love this game much more. Made me love my family members much more. Just brings a different kind of perspective to life.”