Michael Doman overcomes the odds, makes soaring comeback to football after car crash

News 11 Exclusive Report: A Soaring Comeback

YUMA, Ariz. (KYMA, KECY) - In early March 2021, Michael Doman was like any high school athlete -preparing for his senior season of football.

Football had become a lifestyle for Doman, making his mark on the offensive line for the Gila Ridge Hawks. A sport that he committed to playing after falling in love with it in just 5th grade.

"Football became a big part of his life. Always the tallest kid. Always the biggest kid, for his age," said his father Mike. "I think it was preschool and he came back and said the teacher kept asking him if he was there with his little brother. He always had like eight or nine inches on everybody.”

That size helped him elevate his physical game where he went on to compete in many camps and showcases across the desert southwest. That's when several coaches told the Doman's he was going to be a force on the field by the time he was in middle school.

But it was the relationships Doman created along the way that helped his success, as well. The Doman's are a military family and moved around a lot, so Michael formed many friendships through football and always fit in well.

“The friendships that he’s made through football, I think was the biggest impact," said his mother, Kaycee. "It’s just how strong it made him. He’s always striving to be stronger.”

So football was crucial in Doman's life. A mix of competition and relationships.

But on March 11th, 2021, one single moment had the potential to take away football from him forever.

It was a day where Doman had to convince his mother, Kaycee, to let him travel out to Phoenix with a friend from Yuma to see another friend.

“Well Mikey at first was like ‘mom can i go?’ and I’m like ‘no you can’t go Mikey, that’s far ya know?'" said Kaycee. "But I’m like 'okay he’s a good kid. He’s never gotten into trouble or nothing’s ever happened to him ya know? So i was like ‘you can go today, that’s okay.’”

But just hours later, Mike and Kaycee received a phone call that no parent ever wants to receive.

“We were standing over here in the kitchen when we got a phone call about the accident," said Mike. "The main thought going through my head was I was hoping he was still alive because they didn’t tell us much at all.”

On an intersection off of route 238 in Maricopa County, a head-on collision forced Doman and his friend in an emergency trip to Chandler Regional Medical Center.

Bizarrely enough, the other car involved in the crash had several kids from Wellton-Tacna - a wild connection from Yuma County.

And in a devastating turn of events, the crash left Chris Pelfrey dead - an assistant baseball coach for Antelope Union high school.

For Doman, the extent of his injuries were unknown before being taken to the ICU and into surgery.

For Mike and Kaycee, they made the trip out to the medical center without knowing what had happened to their son. But it was a phone call in the ambulance from Michael where he apologized and said he would be okay.

A phone call that he still does not remember to this day.

“And then that’s when the trauma surgeons were calling us because they had to take him into surgery right then," said Kaycee. "We had to sign off on surgery not knowing what was wrong."

So it became a waiting game.

"We got to spend two hours with him and then they brought him back into another surgery that lasted eight hours," said Kaycee. "It made me gasp for air. You see your baby laying there helpless, hooked up to the machines. No one should ever have to see their baby in the ICU."

"I was just sitting there holding his hand and trying to keep him strong," said Mike. "While trying to stay strong at the same time."

Although thankfully they learned he would not suffer any life threatening injuries, something else dear to his heart was in serious question.

“When i asked the doctors if i was going to be able to play this season or at all ever again, they straight up told me that they weren’t sure. I asked a few and they said probably not," said Michael. "That broke me down and just made me feel like less of a person honestly, to not be able to do what I love.”

That's when Michael took it upon himself to prove them wrong and prove himself wrong.

But getting out of the hospital bed was just the beginning of a long road back to recovery.

"There were days where I definitely wanted to give up," said Michael. "But the support I received from my family and other people really helped me along the way."

Just four months into constant physical therapy and rehab, Michael was back on his feet. He had gotten past the threshold that held him back for so long, even struggling to get out of bed and walk.

And then it took just two more months to get back to strength. In no time, Doman was back on the practice field and preparing to make it to game day for the first time in a year.

Doman would eventually take the field in Gila Ridge's fifth game of the season. Something he will never forget.

"I did make that comeback and I proved myself wrong really," said Michael. "That moment walking off the field after my first game was one of the greatest feelings of my life."

He would finish the season, getting stronger each and every day despite some pain.

And by the time the season was over, Michael was now deciding where he wanted to play college football. A dream of his that he was not going to let be taken away because of the crash.

In the end, he chose Coe College in Cedar Rapids, Iowa - extending his education while getting to do what he loved on the football field.

Going from a Hawk to a Kohawk. Truly,and fittingly, a soaring comeback.

"We could not be more proud. He amazes us every day for how strong he really is," said Kaycee.

A long road back, but an extremely rewarding road back to recovery for Doman. A comeback that not many expected. And he gives credit to the people around him for helping him get there.

"The overwhelming support and the people that believed and me and pushed me to even just being able to walk again, that’s really what kept me going everyday.”