TORONTO June 17th 2015. First in a series of 4 special blog features by Robert MacDonald, a 28-year old Canadian who went from ICU hospital bed, with a 5% chance of ever walking again, to training to run the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Half-Marathon in 2015. Follow Robert’s journey via Instagram and Twitter.
Get Motivated: The journey from a 5% chance of ever being able to walk again to running the STWM. By Robert MacDonald.
The date is December 8th, 2012. I am lying on the ground not able to get up, move or for that matter feel my lower body. All I can think is, “What have I done?”
I had fallen 30 feet, landing on my side, breaking 9 vertebrae, 11 ribs, my scapula, and puncturing a lung. At that moment on December 8th, lying there, I didn’t know the full extent of my injuries yet. But I did know one thing for certain: from that moment on, my life had changed forever.
Arriving by air ambulance and rushed to Toronto’s St. Michael’s Hospital I began to learn exactly how dire my circumstances were. I was diagnosed with ASIA B Paraplegia, leaving me a 5% chance of ever walking again. I was left immobilized in ICU not knowing if I would live, move my legs, or ever walk again. It was a very dark time in my life.
However, I had been raised to believe in perseverance: never giving up regardless of what you’re striving to accomplish. So I climbed out of that dark place; even though I had every odd stacked against me, I believed I would walk again.
My rehabilitation journey would begin with the help of amazing Canadian health care system, specifically St. Michael’s Hospital and the Lyndhurst, a Toronto Rehabilitation Institute. My life was consumed by one painful day of rehab after another. Progress wasn’t made in huge strides but in small muscle twitches, or the first time I was able to stand on my own.
- At one month in, I would stand with aid for the first time.
- Two months in, I would walk with aid for the first time.
- Three months in, I would walk without aid or devices for the first time.
- 14 months in. I would jog a short distance for the first time.
- Two years in, I would complete a 10Km jog without stopping.
- At Just under three years from my accident, I hope to complete 21.1km without stopping at the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Half-Marathon.
This journey has been a long, frustrating, painful and exhausting process. I have had many ups and many downs, but what keeps me moving forward is the idea of improvement. Whether it is an incrementally small gain in balance or colossal breakthrough in muscle response, the opportunity to improve keeps me going.
One of my favourite quotes, which is framed on the wall in my apartment really hits home to my whole experience.
“There is one thing that gives radiance to everything. The idea of something around the corner.”
– G.K. Chesterton
I urge each and every one of you to get out there and challenge yourself, to start running. Start with 1 km, progress to 2 km, or just aim to beat your personal best and establish a new goal. The power of the human mind and spirit is an outstanding thing. Anything can be accomplished if you set your mind to it.
I know, with just a little perseverance, you will find the outcome truly rewarding.
Your training buddy,
-Robert MacDonald
*To learn more my story, visit this link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oep9KOQLG3g
or contact me via email at robert@roicorp.com.
