Although paralyzed from the chest down, Guelph race car driver Robert Wickens is hoping to someday walk again.
Wickens took to social media Friday to detail his situation and respond to news reports that took a previous tweet and made it look like he was announcing he was paralyzed.
“I just wanted to clarify a few things. There seems to be some confusion about what the word “paraplegic” really means. Please read my statement below. Thank you all for your amazing support! You’re all a big part in helping me get back on my feet!” Wickens tweeted.
I just wanted to clarify a few things. There seems to be some confusion about what the word “paraplegic” really means. Please read my statement below. Thank you all for your amazing support! You’re all a big part in helping me get back on my feet! pic.twitter.com/hcxp4mOcCN
— Robert Wickens (@robertwickens) October 27, 2018
His statement detailed that he has been paralyzed since he was involved in a horrific crash at Pocono Raceway on Aug. 19.
His spinal cord was badly bruised but not severed and Wickens hopes that with healing and therapy he will someday be able to walk again.
“There was no “announcement” to confirm I was paralyzed. I was paralyzed the moment I hit the fence pole in Pocono. We were very clear I had a spinal cord injury in the press release issued by SPM, but I guess people are not aware of what that means and are just speculating,” Wickens wrote.
“I’m paralyzed from the chest down. The level of my injury, which is T4.
He said that there is hope “the nerves may be able to find my way back to my legs” because they weren’t severed.
“The good news is I already have some movement and most feeling back in my legs, so there is hope over the course of 24 months that I may regain enough movement to walk again!
“I’m just keeping my head down and working until the therapist and doctors tell me to stop.”
