A look back at sports
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Sports pictures of the year
From a nail-biting pass at Superbowl XLIII to a bloody WBO World Welterwight fight, here's a look at the best sports photos of 2009. Slideshow
Everett recovery stuns doctors after near-fatal hit
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Buffalo Bills tight-end Kevin Everett continued his astonishing recovery from a near-lethal neck injury on Wednesday, but doctors cautioned that a long road still lies ahead.
After undergoing emergency surgery on the spinal injury sustained during the Bills's season opener on Sunday, doctors had given the reserve little hope of a full recovery from the paralysis.
But Everett has stunned doctors by his rapid recovery. Orthopaedic spinal surgeon Andrew Cappuccino, who performed the surgery, described his recovery to local TV station WIVB-TV as a 'minor miracle'.
Everett continued to show progress on Wednesday, team doctors saying there had been clear improvement in his motor function.
"He (Everett) was able to move his legs together and apart, wiggles his toes and had slight movement from his ankle," said Dr Kevin Gibbons, the director of the neurological ICU at Millard Fillmore Gates hospital, on the Bills web site www.buffalobills.com.
"He was able to kick out his lower leg against gravity with his knee raised. He was able to slightly extend his elbow with his triceps muscle.
NO MOVEMENT
"This morning he continues to demonstrate improvement in his legs to the point where he can bend his hip and has the ability to straighten out his knee.
"His biceps function seem to fluctuate. He has no movement in his hands.
"The speed with which it's occurred is a great sign.
"But when we discussed this during and after surgery it's a long shot that he'll have full use of his arms or legs, but it's not impossible."
Asked if Everett would ever walk again, Gibbons answered; "I wouldn't bet against it".
Doctors also removed Everett from the ventilator on Wednesday that had helped assist his breathing.
Everett sustained the injury when tackling Denver return man Domenik Hixon on the second half opening kickoff.
After making what appeared to be a routine hit, Everett fell to the turf and lay motionless for 15 minutes before being removed from the stadium and taken to hospital.
