If your favourite routine in the gym is core exercises, you may want to be extra careful while doing different variations of the workout because you could potentially hurt yourself, like this young fitness model.
According to Unilad, Marcelle Mancuso, 23, broke the fifth vertebrae in her neck when she was performing ‘inverted’ sit-ups at a gym in Sao Jose do Rio Preto, Brazil. Not only that, she had knocked one of the vertebrae out of place and also compressed her spinal cord. Ouch!
“It was just another normal day of training. I went to perform the abdominal inverted sit-up and was upside down. I was attached to the equipment with a strip, which broke and the personal trainer could not hold me. I hit the back of my head on the floor and immediately lost all body movements with the blow,” she explained.
Source: Unilad
This incident left the model paralysed from the neck down and doctors warned her that she could be tetraplegic forever.
FYI, tetraplegic is a spinal cord injury that could lead to some degree of paralysis in all four limbs – the legs and the arms.
“The doctors didn’t know if I would walk again or if I would stay on a bed forever. I was afraid, but my faith always spoke louder and I thanked God for being alive. My parents were desperate with fear of losing me but I was always determined,” she said.
Thus, the doctors had to graft bone onto her smashed vertebrae and fix a titanium plate held by six screws into her spine to help her recover.
Source: Unilad
Despite that, the doctors still weren’t sure if Marcelle would recover from the paralysis. Yet, thanks to her determination, just after three days, she began to wiggle her toes and fingers. Then, in only a week, she was standing up with assistance and a month later, she took her first steps.
“After four months I started to improve my leg strength and five months after the accident, I stopped having fainting and dizziness while walking. After six months, I managed to walk and my legs did not sway anymore,” she added.
Now, she is back in the gym and in perfect shape. She’s even doing inverted sit-ups again!
Source: Unilad
Marcelle said she has learnt a lot from the experience and now values the simple things in life.
“I have a normal life today and thank God all the time for it! I’ve learnt to value the simplest things in life, such as getting out of bed and being able to brush my teeth without help,” she said.
She also added that she wants to help and inspire people who are going through difficult times.
Source: Unilad
“While you’re alive, you have a chance. Life can be incredible from various perspectives, it just depends on us and the love we carry in our hearts,” said Marcelle.
Well, we definitely hope Marcelle will inspire many more people to get back on their feet again even after hitting rock-bottom. Also, we congratulate her on the incredible recovery!
Also read: 8 Inspiring Facts of 99 Speedmart’s Disabled Founder Who Made It Against All Odds
