So began the path toward Ryan Straschnitzki’s first small steps since he was paralyzed from the chest down 17 months ago in the devastating Humboldt Broncos bus crash in Saskatchewan that killed 16 people, including some of his teammates and coaches. The procedure was done to strengthen core muscles — the ones around the trunk and pelvis — and allow Straschnitzki to move more independently. Straschnitzki was confined to the hospital for three weeks and couldn’t even shower until the last few days. Straschnitzki, all smiles when an orangutan sat on his lap, will have to return to Thailand for a stem cell treatment. He has publicly remained idealistic about regaining his motor skills, and has started to consider a future as a motivational speaker.

Source: thestar December 09, 2019 22:41 UTC