Junior Bobby Rae Allen hit a patch of ice and fell with force on his chest while snowboarding at Seven Springs in Pennsylvania on Feb. 3

“It was pretty awful, the physicality of it,” said Allen. “I was in a lot of pain.”

Allen was admitted to the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh where he was in critical condition with a lacerated spleen. He stayed hospitalized for one week.

“[The staff] was incredible,” said Allen. “They took such great care of me and I got to meet two Steelers players, James Harrison and Chris Hoke.”

Although Allen has recovered, he will not be allowed to participate in school sports, including his main sport baseball, this spring season.

“It’s sad because I worked really hard to get where I am in baseball and it all went up in smoke,” said Allen.

Close friend junior Max Koehler expressed his concerns for Allen.

“I was very, very concerned and felt like I needed to call him right away,” said Koehler. “Thank God for Twitter because Bobby Rae posted constant updates on his condition and the hospital. Bobby Rae is a strong, big-hearted, brave person who was able to get back on track. I’m so happy he’s back in school and is the same Bobby Rae as before.”

Although the accident was a big scare, Allen’s recovery has been going well.

“By the time the school year ends you won’t even be able to tell that it happened,” said Allen.