MUSKEGON - The football season ended abruptly for Ben Avink, who plays for Allendale High School's JV football team. Ben suffered a head injury last month while making a tackle during a game in Muskegon.

Allendale's JV football team traveled to face Muskegon Catholic Central. Falcons cornerback Ben Avink makes a tackle to keep the Crusaders out of the endzone. "Well, it was a good hit, any coach would have went 'Yes', that was a good hit," Cindy Avink, Ben's mom, told FOX 17 News.

But it was a hit that Ben didn't get up from. "It was not good. He was unconscious on the field at the time, so we got him to the hospital which he was unconscious then too. He ended up in surgery they say in less than an hour about an hour from when it happened," said Avink. Doctors discovered a cyst on Ben's brain that had ruptured.

After successful surgery and weeks of recovery, Ben is back on his feet. He returned to MCC on Friday to say thanks to a school that has been praying for him since the injury. "Mom said she'd like to bring Ben back just to meet the kids, because he had the cards in his room, a big birthday card with all these names, but didn't really know anybody so he just wanted to come and say thank you to everybody," said Rob Bridges, MCC's Superintendent.

"They gave me like 200 cards. It's crazy how many cards they gave me," Ben said. Ben is still getting therapy, but is hoping to play basketball this season. "I am really glad to be here," he smiled.