Nev Schulman managed to complete the New York Marathon on Sunday, just months after breaking his neck in a bike accident.
In August, the Catfish host revealed that he was ‘lucky to be alive’ following a terrifying incident involving a truck, and was fortunate that he wasn’t paralyzed in the crash.
The 40-year-old took time out to focus on his recovery, managing to get himself out of bed and walking around just days later, leaving his medical team shocked.
He had previously registered as a blind runner guide for his friend, Francesco Magisano, and the Achilles International Foundation, and this gave him the motivation he needed to fast-track his recovery.
Taking to Instagram, the TV favorite proudly shared footage of their day with fans, explaining: ‘This was a big one for me. Exactly 3 months ago I wasn’t sure if I’d ever run again, and today I proved to myself that anything is possible with the right amount of commitment, determination and support.
‘There are too many people to thank, but I’ll start with my incredible wife @lauraperlongo. She was there for me and our family through every moment and never flinched or missed a beat.
‘From my doctors and nurses at Stoneybrook, to my Chiro and PT, to my amazing friends and famiy, THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH [sic].’
‘A huge thanks also to @brooksrunning for believing in me when I wasn’t sure if I believed in myself,’ he added.
‘And to @achilles_international and @teamfrancescoofficial who have forever changed my life and opened my heart to the incredible world of athletes with disabilities, keep up the great work! #NYCMarathon #BrooksPartner.’
Fans couldn’t get enough of Nev’s efforts and celebrated his achievements in the comments section below.
Lescarletwoman replied: ‘Nev, you’re absolutely killing it!!! Congratulations on your amazing recovery and congrats to all three of you on an awesome run!!’
‘I love everything about this!! From your challenges, to his, to overcoming everything, your family there to support you; Nev, you are A BEACON to us all,’ Ohaitheremo agreed.
Katexiv cheered: ‘You’re an inspiration to so many Nev! Before your accident, but even more now!’
As Becca_shinn_ added: ‘This is so amazing. There are so many reasons I’ve been inspired by you over the years of watching Catfish, but this one is the best yet. Congratulations.’
Nev, who shares three children with wife Laura Perlongo, opened up about his injuries on social media over the summer, posting pictures of himself in his hospital bed, wearing a neck brace.
At the time, he said that he was heading to pick his son up from school when tragedy struck.
‘I broke my neck. C5 and C6 to be exact. Stable fractures. I’m not paralyzed. My hands were a question mark there for a minute but the human body is incredible and so are HUMANS,’ he wrote, vowing that he’s expected to make a full recovery.
‘It’s hard to feel sorry for myself when I hear from the doctors about how many people with similar injuries will never walk again.
‘I’m lucky to be here, alive, standing and hugging my family, projected to make a full recovery.
‘And I’m really starting to understand the meaning of gratitude. For the big and little things before the accident, and now everything moving forward.’
While this would have been an understandable reason to back out of the marathon, Nev was having none of it and used Francesco’s faith in him as added motivation to get back on his feet.
‘I’m in a brace. I’m laying in bed. I am devastated for a million reasons. And for the first time I’m thinking, “Okay, wait a second. Maybe there’s a chance if he’s counting on me,”’ he told People Magazine. ‘My body really bounced back.
‘The first few runs were obviously tough, I was going at a much slower pace than I would normally go and working much harder than I would normally work.
‘But once [I] got some momentum going, by the third or fourth run I really felt strong again. I’m not 100%, but I feel great, honestly.’
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