Paralyzed Bodybuilder-Stroke&Spinal Cord Recovery

Isabelle Bourdon is organizing this fundraiser.

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My living miracle♥️

We need your help!!!!

On Dec 8th 2019, David was coming back from the gym and heading to his little brothers birthday when his life changed forever. He had a car accident just minutes away from his mothers home.

He suffered many life threatening injuries including a stroke to his right hemisphere, which is now affecting the left side of his body, bowel perforation and ischemia, a broken nose and teeth as well as fractures to his right
tibia/fibula. David suffered a spine fracture (severe injury at the T12-L1 level). The L1 superior facets were seen dislocated over the T12 inferior facets - right more than left. The pedicle was intact, or in other words, his spinal cord was compromised but not severed. On December 10, he underwent an 8-hour long surgery, fusing 7 of his vertebrae, open reduction and decompression of the spine. At this moment, only time will tell the extent of his injuries.

After undergoing 4 surgeries in 3 days, he was put into a medically induced coma for 6 days and then went on to spend 4 weeks in the trauma unit. Through all this, Dave never stopped fighting. On Jan. 12th after only being able to eat/drink ice chips for 4 weeks, Dave sent me to get him some McDonald’s and I had never been so happy to do so!!!

After battling and fighting blood clots, he was starting to heal from all his injuries and gaining strength. On Jan. 14th they transferred him to the Ottawa General Hospital Rehabilitation Center. The doctors have been impressed with all the progress he has been making and are optimistic about his future. He currently has upper-body movement and is gaining more strength and range of motion everyday. He’s been having more sensation and some movement in his legs as well. We are striving for a full recovery!!!!

A little bit about Dave.

Big brother of James, who is 9 years old. He loves his family. He works for the Township and loves his job. He works in the Environment and Waste Management Department. He’s always been active since he remembers; played hockey, soccer and football all-through his childhood and hockey. He started training at the gym around the age of 17 and its passion for it only grew bigger from there.

When I started following Dave’s fitness journey in late 2018, I quickly realized his motivation, perseverance and passion for self-betterment was exactly the kind of energy that was missing in my life. He is well known for his utmost level of positivity. He’s the type of person who will make you feel like you can achieve the impossible if you simply put your mind to it! It didn’t take long and before you knew it, our lives merged, and the rest is history.

This summer, Dave started getting stage ready for the GNC/ALL MAX Ottawa Regional Championship that was happening on November 2nd. I struggled to understand why someone would put themselves through all that work and discipline. With it being his second show, just at 22 years old, he was all the more determined in pushing his limits to the max. I had never seen someone with such mental strength. While being stubborn and focused in achieving his goals, he was also sharing his passion with others around him. The day he took the stage, that is when I finally understood his love for fitness — hence why it didn’t take me long to fall head over heals for this nice lookin’ goof ball.

To support Dave through this incredibly difficult time, we have set up this fundraising campaign. Like many of us, we were not prepare for this unfortunate event and even though his insurance should cover some rehabilitation and treatments, he will have a very long journey ahead starting from transferring to the General Rehab to our home. We have to move closer to town, into an accessible home or make the modifications for David, these funds will help us get through this one day at a time. The insurance also only covers for a limited amount of time, anything will help us!!! WE ARE SO GRATEFUL of all your help! David is ready to push until he gets back on that stage. These funds will help him get the best possible treatments, equipment and most important of all, quality of life during all stages of his recovery. Having this financial support will alleviate that stress and Dave will be able to focus 100% on his recovery.

This journey will be long and filled with both good and bad days. ANY donations will make a difference.

Give to this campaign, and help David defy the odds!

PLEASE SHARE David’s incredibly inspiring story! We will be posting updates on Dave’s recovery on here as well as on his Instagram account

Follow his journey NOW

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To David:

I will forever be grateful to still have you by my side today. Words cannot begin to express how proud I am of you for going through all this while keeping your head high. You always hear about tragedies like these, but never think it could happen to you. If there is ANYONE who can push through this, it’s you and you will♥️