Ten months after suffering a severe spinal injury that left him temporarily paralyzed, former Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier walked on the same Cincinnati field that changed his life.
In Dec. 2017, during a Monday Night Football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Shazier, 26, was involved in a helmet-to-helmet tackle that left the linebacker unable to move his legs. After being stabilized, it was revealed that Shazier had sustained a spinal contusion that left him paralyzed from the waist down. However, after several surgeries and months of rehab, Shazier regained his ability to walk. The 26-year-old took time to thank those who supported his journey, beginning with the city of Cincinnati.
Before the Steelers took the field at Paul Brown Stadium, Shazier paid a visit to the UC Health’s University of Cincinnati Medical Center. Shazier underwent his first spinal surgeries there, establishing the recovery plan that changed his life.
"Coming back is kind of scary sometimes, so I’m actually happy to be here and see everyone’s face and I just want to let you guys know that I’m doing really well and I’m thankful," Shazier told the UC Health’s University of Cincinnati Medical Center staff in the video.
This was Shazier's first official visit to the city of Cincinnati since the severe spinal injury.
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