A young hockey player who was paralyzed in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash is heading to the United States for specialized spinal treatment.
Ryan Straschnitzki, who has been getting physiotherapy twice a day at Calgary’s Foothills Medical Centre, is scheduled to board a medical flight Wednesday for Philadelphia, where he will continue his rehabilitation at the Shriners Hospital for Children.
“The Shriners reached out a couple of weeks ago,” said Ryan’s father, Tom Straschnitzki. “He offered to have the Shriners make Ryan a Shriners Kid so he could go to Philly for spinal rehab there instead of staying here.
“It’s a big-time boost. He’s very excited. It’s fantastic news. We haven’t been there but we’ve heard about it, so you’ve gotta try it.”
WATCH: He has proven time and time again he’s a fighter. Humboldt Broncos defenceman Ryan Straschnitski was paralyzed from the neck down after a horrific bus crash. Now the player from Airdrie is in Philadelphia for rehabilitation. Lauren Pullen reports.
The 19-year-old was paralyzed from the chest down when a bus carrying the Saskatchewan junior hockey team was in a collision with a semi-trailer on a rural highway on April 6.
LISTEN: Tom Straschnitzki joins Gord Gillies to provide an update on son Ryan’s upcoming treatment in Philadelphia
Straschnitzki said his son will be in Philadelphia for six to eight weeks. His life is likely to change once again when he returns to Canada.
“He should be going home by then,” his father said. “Once he can do it on his own, they’ll send him home, and then he’ll do rehab here in Calgary.”
Ryan Straschnitzki was badly hurt in the accident. He suffered a spinal injury, broken ribs, a broken collarbone, a punctured lung and bleeding in his head and pelvis.
The collision is still being investigated.
The Broncos were on their way to a playoff game. Sixteen people were killed and 13 were injured. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police have said the truck was in the intersection when the crash occurred.
Watch below: On April 25, Ryan Straschnitzki spoke to the media about his recovery after returning to Calgary to continue his treatment at the Foothills Medical Centre.
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