Paralyzed ex-footballer attends wedding of player involved in collision

The bond between Devon Gales, a paralyzed former football player, and the opposing player involved in the collision that left him permanently injured is so tight, that Gales and his mother attended the former kicker’s wedding on Saturday.

Gales was playing wide receiver for the Southern University Jaguars during a September 2015 matchup against the University of Georgia Bulldogs when he collided with the team’s kicker, Marshall Morgan. The hit left Gales with a fractured C6 vertebrae and paralyzed from the waist down, WSB-TV reported.

“When I hit him my arms locked,” Gales told DawgNation during his recovery. “I wanted to roll over and lift my head. All I could remember is lifting my head trying to get up but I couldn’t get up.”

Morgan visited Gales in the hospital the Monday after his surgery, with Gales’ mother recalling an emotional moment between the two, DawgNation had reported. At the time they had spoken about having a connection, and over the weekend a series of photos appeared to show it still held strong.

Gales and his mother, Tanisha Deans-Gales were on hand to watch Morgan marry his fiancée, Madison Giddens, and stopped to pose for a few photos with the couple.

“What a true blessing to be in the mist of such wonderful people!” Deans-Gales posted along with the photos on Saturday.  “Although tragedy brought us together, love has kept us together and we have been tragically blessed to be a part of this family!”

“Today two best friends made the commitment to love each other for life and I am so glad that they saw fit to have us share this precious moment with them! Congrats again Marshall and Maddie!” she posted.

In February, the University of Georgia announced a fund to help Gales build a new home, WSB-TV reported.