Tatupu returns after spine injury

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

Thanksgiving will be a little more special at Brandon Tatupu's household tomorrow.

McKinley offensive lineman Brandon Tatupu played in his first game last Friday since being hospitalized with a badly bruised spine on Oct. 5. McKinley plays Castle on Friday in the state championship semifinals. Cory Lum • The Honolulu Advertiser

It was his first game back since being hospitalized with a badly bruised spine that left him with no feeling on his left side for a while in an Oct. 5 game against Castle at Roosevelt.

"A lot of praise and glory goes to the Man up stairs," Tatupu said. "I'm so grateful, so blessed that He gave me another chance to play and do what I love."

The Tigers will face the Knights in Friday's state semifinals at Aloha Stadium.

It will be a special game for McKinley's Tatupu and Castle linebacker Cory Daniel. It was Daniel's family that gave Tatupu a gift basket. The gesture of concern defined sportsmanship and started a friendship for two families separated by the Ko'olau range.

Lorraine Tatupu said she started following Daniel on TV since the O'ahu Interscholastic Association playoffs.

"I look at Cory as my hanai son," she said.

On the night of the OIA championship, Daniel's mother, Leina Daniel, had the key that opened the door to a car she won at a halftime contest. Mrs. Tatupu called to congratulate her.

"She told me that we were the first people that came to her mind," Mrs. Tatupu said. "That's what happens when you give from the heart. This is a blessing for something she deserves for doing a good deed. That was something special."

Tatupu's teammates are glad he is back.

"Now we have the original starters," offensive lineman Patrick Manzodra said. "We'll be stronger now."

McKinley coach David Tanuvasa called Tatupu an inspiration.

"That he can go through something so traumatic and yet put aside some feelings and enter into the danger zone again with a lot of confidence, he's a boost for us," he said.