Injured Humboldt Broncos player Ryan Straschnitzki achieving independence in his recovery
Global News
Ryan Straschnitzki was paralyzed from the chest down in April 2018, when a semi-trailer ran a stop sign and went into the path of the Humboldt Bronco's bus in rural Saskatchewan.
Three years after the Humboldt Broncos bus crash claimed the lives of 11 of his teammates, Ryan Straschnitzki is well on his way to reaching a major goal — the ability to live an independent life.
Straschnitzki, who is now 22, was paralyzed from the chest down on April 6, 2018, when a semi-trailer ran a stop sign and went into the path of the junior hockey team’s bus in rural Saskatchewan.
In total, sixteen people died and 13 others were seriously injured.
Straschnitzki, who lives in Airdrie, just north of Calgary, has set his goals on playing on the national sledge hockey team at the Olympics, being able to walk again some day and caring for himself.
Last week, he drove up to his physiotherapy appointment, took out his wheelchair from his car, snapped on its wheels and was in the building in less than a minute. He often travels alone.
Later in the day, he went for a paragolf lesson, which he started earlier in September.
“One of my goals from the start was to be more independent and do more things for myself — for the time that I am living by myself or doing things for myself,” Straschnitzki said while at Calgary’s Heritage Pointe Golf Club.
During the gruelling two-hour physio lesson, Straschnitzki used a walker and, with a little assistance, took about a dozen steps.