A California man who was paralyzed during an armed robbery of his ice cream truck earlier this year has advanced from a quadriplegic to a paraplegic after months of hard work with people who hold physical therapy jobs, according to a published report.
Pakistan native Mohammad Rafique endured six hours of surgery this past March to remove a bullet from his spine, The Record reports. His routine with therapists often prompts him to sweat and causes blood rush to his face.
"I never thought this would happen to me, but the worst thing that could happen has already happened," Rafique told the news source, noting he used to be an active soccer player and loved holding his young children over his head. "I still have my mind and my heart."
He caught at least two bullets: one lodged in his right forearm, where it remains; the second entered near his shoulder and headed toward his spine as it shredded nerve endings in his neck. Police in Stockton have apprehended three suspects, one of whom is a juvenile.
Physical therapists often work in hospitals, clinics, offices and nursing homes, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.