Testimonial: UH Volleyball Champion Fully Recovers

UH Volleyball Champion Fully Recovers


	UH Volleyball Player Tony Ching needed blood to survive a life-threatening mopeds accident last year.

Tony Ching is accustomed to being in front of large crowds as part of the UH men’s volleyball team, but in January the national champion stood before hundreds of blood donors thanking them for the role they played in saving his life.

Ching survived a life-threatening moped accident in May last year. He was hit by an oncoming car, while making a left turn at the intersection of Punahou Street and Wilder Avenue. He flew through the air and landed 40 feet away from the site of impact.

“Both of my knees were literally ripped open, I had a concussion and a punctured lung,” Ching said. “My brain was swelling because I fractured the front half of my skull. They fused two parts of my head back together and I’ve still got a metal plate in there.”

Ching, who has type A blood, needed four blood transfusions and spent a great deal of time in recovery. UH volleyball fans, friends and supporters offered their encouragement through more than 600 letters.

“Doctors told me that being an athlete helped me take the fall and recover much faster than normal,” Ching said. “I’m blessed that I had great doctors, a strong family and blood donors who care enough to help others they don’t even know.”

Thanks to blood donors, Ching has fully recovered and is playing competitive beach volleyball. He plans to pursue a professional volleyball career in Europe after graduation.