On October 16, 2010, 4:46 p.m., Eric Legrand, a defensive lineman at Rutgers University, was afflicted with a spinal cord injury after a both emotionally and physically crushing tackle during a football game against Army. The collision had cracked two vertebrae near the top of Eric’s spinal column- the C3 and the C4- which lead to his paralysis. After a long night of surgery at Hackensack Medical Center, Dr. Vingan told Karen LeGrand, Eric’s mother, that Eric had a zero to five percent chance of regaining neurological function. As of May, 2012, EMG technicians discovered that some nerves were sending electrical signals in and around his spinal cord. Technicians also noticed that Eric has been able to twitch is biceps, triceps, and one of his fingers. LeGrand’s Hero’s Journey galvanized and dumbfounded millions throughout New Jersey and across the nation with his unimaginable optimism and faith through his road of trials. The accident, his determination, and his charitable speeches of the story are why many find him a hero and true inspiration. …show more content…
Once LeGrand’s mother was told about his little to zero chance of movement below his injury, she let no one enter Eric’s room with pessimistic messages and or thoughts. Only positivity and encouragement was allowed in his room-his mother didn’t even speak to him about the chance that he may never walk again, lack of motion and breathing and eating through a tube was mentally and emotionally detrimental in itself. But the amount of support from family, friends, fans, teammates, coach, and even other football teams is incredible. Schools have made fundraisers, sold bracelets, stickers, and jerseys - Rutgers football players wear a “Believe” stickers on their helmet-, and NFL teams were “pulling for Eric