George and Kim Custer, parents of Ryan Custer, provide an update on their son's condition.(Photo: The Enquirer/Sheila Vilvens)Buy Photo

Reading from a prepared statement, pausing to choke back emotions a few times, the father of the recently injured Wright State University basketball player and Elder High School graduate, Ryan Custer, offered an update on his sons condition.

Hes shown some improvement in the past few days, George Custer said during a news conference at University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He has some feeling in his fingers and some slight movement, he said. Hes also felt the tops of his feet being rubbed and said theres some tingling in his thighs and feet.

Ryan Custer suffered a spinal injury April 8 after he reportedly attempted to dive into a make-shift pool while at a party near Miami University. He was flown to UC Medical Center where he underwent surgery and has remained since the accident.

Right now Ryan is being considered for a stem cell study at Rush University in Chicago, George Custer said.

He leaves Friday morning but there are no guarantees he will be accepted into the study. He will be evaluated for five days.

Hopefully hell pass the test theyre going to give him and hell receive an injection and hell be there for seven to nine days afterward for further evaluation, Custer said. In-house rehabilitation will follow at a yet-to-be-determined location.

Custer, with his wife, Kim, by his side, expressed gratitude for the prayers, supportand kindness shown to his family and Ryan over the past week and for the generous donations to the GoFundMe page set up for Ryan.

The Ryan Custer 33 Recovery Fund has raised more than $81,000 towards its $100,000 goal.

Those donations will be extremely helpful in ensuring Ryan receives the best care that he can get so we can get him back to the way he was, Custer said.

He asked for continued prayers as well.

The more prayers we have, maybe God will answer our prayers and give him the healing that he needs, he said.

For those wanting to follow his progress, updates will continue to be provided on Ryan Custers Recovery Care Page on Facebook.

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Elder grad, Wright State athlete considered for stem cell study - Cincinnati.com