Nathan
“Chico is a fighter. His fire is something that you rarely see in people that have been through something like he has. He's the kind of man that will give his blood, sweat and tears to get what he wants in life. Which is why I believe so strongly in his recovery goals.”
On November 9th, Nathan was walking through downtown Toronto when he came across a commotion. Without hesitation, he stepped in to try to break it up. That decision cost him everything he knew. A single bullet tore through his body, striking his spleen, left kidney, and pancreas. All three had to be surgically removed. He lost half of his body's blood volume. His surgeon did not expect him to survive.
Nathan was 23 years old. At the time he worked in the trades as a hydrovac operator in a union and had been boxing since he was 12. Boxing wasn't just a hobby, it was his outlet, his discipline, and his identity. In an instant, a young man who had built his life around physical toughness was paralyzed from the waist down with a T12 vertebrae injury.
He spent three months in hospital before being transferred to a spinal cord rehabilitation program in Hamilton. Even there, Nathan had to fight for the care he needed. Advocating and even protesting to gain access to standing frames, KAFO braces, and exoskeleton technology. No one was going to hand him his recovery. He had to demand it.
That fighter's mentality has defined Nathan's entire journey. He has regained quad and adductor mobility, knee movement, and sensation in roughly half of his legs. His T12 injury preserved hip mobility, allowing him to use KAFO braces to stand and get up from his chair.
Through it all, Nathan's faith has been a grounding force. He describes his injury as "God's way of saying sit down and think about everything." Rather than letting the trauma define him, he has used it as a catalyst for reinvention. Nathan is now pursuing a custom jewelry business, teaching himself CAD design to create gold and silver pieces, learning how to create content and ultimately using his second chance at life to chase his dreams unapologetically.
Nathan's support system has been a constant source of motivation, and his loved ones have been with him every step of the way. His goals are clear: pursue stem cell treatment to continue his neurological recovery, and keep pushing toward independent mobility. His advice to other survivors is simple and direct: "stay mentally focused, don't give up, and never become a victim."
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