CLARKSVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A teen athlete from Montgomery County is facing a new reality after a spinal cord injury.

Immanuel Gilmore, 17, was seriously injured while competing in a state wrestling tournament earlier this year. Now, after months in the hospital, Gilmore is finally home, but everyday life looks different, including how he gets out his bed and moves through his own house.

In February, the 17-year-old was rushed into emergency surgery after he was seriously injured during the TSSAA wrestling championship in Nashville. The operation saved his life, but he still cannot move from the waist down and has limited use of his arms.

"I was very confused on what was happening at first," Gilmore told News 2. "And, you know, then I kind of come to terms with, oh, that this happened. So now moving forward, what am I going to do?"

His daily routine is filled with checks, medications and exercises to control his blood pressure. The 17-year-old also uses a slide board to get in and out of bed, which is something that gives him more independence.

"The slide board is actually way better than the Hoyer because it's more convenient. It takes less time to actually get in the bed," Gilmore added.

The teen also has a motorized chair with special settings to help him move around, but even that's limited, especially when weather stands in the way.

"In terms of weather conditions, yeah, I can't really go anywhere if like everything's iced out. You know, I go out there and I'll wipe everything out," he said.

Currently, to get upstairs to the kitchen or living room, Gilmore has to drive his chair out the back door, up the driveway, and all the way around the side of the house to a makeshift ramp at the front.

However, this means his chair is exposed to the elements every time Gilmore goes outside. The family says they hope to build an electric lift outside his bedroom door, which would create a direct path from his room to the back porch. As a result, his chair would be kept out of rain, snow and ice.

Despite the challenges, Gilmore said he isn't giving up and is focused on getting stronger.

"The best way I can describe it is like constantly going though the stages of, like, grief over and over and over again. There really isn't like a definitive end to it," he expressed. "You just learn how to deal with it, it stays the same."

Now back home, his biggest needs are simple: a reliable van and that new lift to give him access to the rest of his house.

"You learn how to kind of take life one step at a time. You learn to slow down, appreciate others even more than usual, appreciate what you have even more than usual," Gilmore concluded.

The Gilmore family said those changes would make daily life safer and more accessible. Through it all, Immanuel says he believes God has a plan in him telling his story.

A GoFundMe has been established to help the Gilmore family with additional expenses. To donate, follow this link.

News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/local-news/montgomery-county-student-athlete-adapts-to-new-reality-after-spinal-cord-injury/