Chris Bey able to walk again, shares first video & updates on paralyzation, surgery
In the first update directly from Chris Bey since suffering a devastating injury last October, the TNA standout revealed everything about the injury, the subsequent surgery and most importantly, a video showing him able to stand up and walk — something he said he was given a 10-25% chance to ever do again.
Bey said he was “laid out paralyzed in the middle of the ring” during he and Ace Austin’s match against the Hardys on October 27th in Detroit, saying it was the scariest moment of his life since he was unable to get up. He said he was also embarrassed, ashamed and scared in the moment.
He was then rushed to a nearby hospital and underwent surgery to fuse his neck (C6 and C7) and spinal cord (C6-T1).
“If it weren’t for TNA and their quick reaction to the accident, I might not be here today,” he wrote, adding how helpful they have been through the journey.
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He said he woke up the next day being overwhelmed by the support he received and also devastated with the prospect of his dream career possibly being over after eight years. At that point, he was paralyzed from the neck down and given a 10-25% chance of ever walking again. He wrote he couldn’t respond to anything due to the inability to use his hands.
He spent a week in the ICU before being moved to a Detroit spinal cord rehab facility where he underwent therapy three hours a day or longer for six days a week. He was able to go home on December 28th — a solid two months after suffering the injury — where he is continuing to do therapy.
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He thanked his family, his girlfriend, Austin, medical personnel in Detroit, TNA, the fans and anyone “who reached out, donated, bought merch, said a prayer or did any little thing even as simple as sharing a thought about me, thank you. I’m eternally grateful for every single one of you.”
He said there is much more to the story and asked for time to get there and tell it.
As Thursday is his 29th birthday, he shared a video, along with the written post, doing the thing it was unlikely he would ever do again: get up and walk. He said he has been out of his wheelchair for three weeks learning to walk again.
“I’m so grateful to be alive. I don’t know what my purpose is, but I know there’s something meant for me to do. For now, I just hope to continue to heal as my body is still in a lot of pain. It’s going to be a long road, but I will not give up. This will be the Greatest Story Ever Told. I love you all.”