Following University of Alabama star quarterback Tua Tagovailoa’s “successful” right hip surgery on Monday, his parents have released a statement expressing heartfelt appreciation for support shown to their family and proclaiming their deep faith in God.
“We would like to thank all of the Alabama family and everyone across the world for the prayers and outpouring of love and support for our son and our family,” Galu and Diane Tagovailoa said on Tuesday. “We felt the unceasing prayer, and words can’t express how overwhelming and uplifting that has been for us.”
“We have total faith in God’s plan for Tua, and we know his plan is never wrong,” they continued. “God’s grace, mercy, love and faithfulness in our lives has never been more evident, despite this setback.”
They concluded, “The care and support Tua and our family has received is nothing short of amazing, and we can’t express our appreciation enough for Dr. Cain, Jeff Allen, Coach Saban, Tua’s teammates, the Alabama Athletics department, our pastors and all of the doctors and nurses that have done such an outstanding job of taking care of Tua. God Bless and Roll Tide!”
The NCAA record-breaker was injured Saturday in the Crimson Tide’s game at Mississippi State.
Dr. Lyle Cain, Bama’s team orthopedic surgeon from Andrews Sports Medicine and Orthopedic Clinic at St. Vincent’s Hospital in Birmingham, released a statement Monday following the surgery, saying, “The procedure went as planned… Tua’s prognosis is excellent, and we expect him to make a full recovery. He will return to Tuscaloosa in the next several days to begin his rehab.”
Tagovailoa was initially airlifted to St. Vincent’s from Starkville, MS, after being injured near the end of the first half of Saturday’s SEC contest. He was then flown Sunday evening to Houston in anticipation of Monday’s surgery.
The Bama quarterback has seemed to be in good spirits while hospitalized, posting pictures of himself smiling as teammates visited him. Tagovailoa has also continued to display his deep faith through the process.
Additionally, this is not the first time that Galu and Diane Tagovailoa have publicly shown their faith.
After coach Nick Saban sent Tua Tagovailoa onto the field as Alabama’s starting quarterback against Louisville last season, Tagovailoa’s parents were captured on camera in the stands praying – heads bowed and eyes closed – with the emotion of the moment evident in their faces.
RELATED: Watch: Galu Tagovailoa reaffirms faith with Church of the Highlands’ Chris Hodges
Pastor Chris Hodges and his wife, Tammy, of the Church of the Highlands even spent some time with the Tagovailoas at St. Vincent’s on Sunday before Tua was airlifted to Houston for surgery.
Sean Ross is the editor of Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
