A Young Gym Owner's Fight for Life After a Stroke: "I Didn't Know if I'd Ever See Again"
At just 36, Donald "Frue" McAvoy's life took an abrupt turn when he suffered a severe stroke in early December. The active gym owner and fitness enthusiast was taking it easy with his fiancée, Rachel Leaptrott, making a cheese board and watching a football game when he began to choke on a bite. Despite Rachel's quick thinking and the prompt arrival of paramedics, McAvoy's condition was dire.
"I remember bits and pieces," McAvoy recalled. "I get chills, because I couldn't see anything. But the scariest thing I ever felt, I didn't know if I'd ever see again." The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, where McAvoy received treatment, diagnosed him with a vertebral artery dissection that had caused the stroke and stopped blood flow to his brain and spine.
The road to recovery was long and arduous. For seven days, McAvoy was on a ventilator, and it was replaced with breathing and feeding tubes that allowed him to begin therapy. Assessments revealed that all of his motor skills had been impacted, and he would need to relearn how to stand, walk, write, and speak.
Despite the challenges, McAvoy remained resolute. "I just remember whatever they asked of me, I knew I had to do it to move on to the next thing," he said. With Rachel by his side, McAvoy pushed himself through therapy sessions, often staying in bed for hours with two people just to help him balance.
As the months passed, McAvoy's progress was marked by small victories. He began taking short walks and eventually progressed to more difficult tasks like preparing food. Vocal therapy helped him regain his voice, and he even started an Instagram account to share his journey and connect with other stroke survivors.
In a remarkable turnaround, McAvoy is now back to his athletic pursuits. Four months after the stroke, he took part in a one-mile challenge run, and just hours before speaking with CBS News, he walked the Swinging Mile at Grandfather Mountain, the highest suspension footbridge in the country.
"It's a family I never knew I had or expected to have at this age," McAvoy said. "It's just amazing to see how far we've all come and are still going." Despite struggling with depth perception and mobility issues, McAvoy is determined to continue his journey towards recovery.
"I didn't know if I'd ever see again," he reflected. "With everything going on, I never thought I would hear myself speak again. When you're in that quiet for so long, you really start thinking about life and what matters and what doesn't." McAvoy's story is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for resilience and determination.
At just 36, Donald "Frue" McAvoy's life took an abrupt turn when he suffered a severe stroke in early December. The active gym owner and fitness enthusiast was taking it easy with his fiancée, Rachel Leaptrott, making a cheese board and watching a football game when he began to choke on a bite. Despite Rachel's quick thinking and the prompt arrival of paramedics, McAvoy's condition was dire.
"I remember bits and pieces," McAvoy recalled. "I get chills, because I couldn't see anything. But the scariest thing I ever felt, I didn't know if I'd ever see again." The Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida, where McAvoy received treatment, diagnosed him with a vertebral artery dissection that had caused the stroke and stopped blood flow to his brain and spine.
The road to recovery was long and arduous. For seven days, McAvoy was on a ventilator, and it was replaced with breathing and feeding tubes that allowed him to begin therapy. Assessments revealed that all of his motor skills had been impacted, and he would need to relearn how to stand, walk, write, and speak.
Despite the challenges, McAvoy remained resolute. "I just remember whatever they asked of me, I knew I had to do it to move on to the next thing," he said. With Rachel by his side, McAvoy pushed himself through therapy sessions, often staying in bed for hours with two people just to help him balance.
As the months passed, McAvoy's progress was marked by small victories. He began taking short walks and eventually progressed to more difficult tasks like preparing food. Vocal therapy helped him regain his voice, and he even started an Instagram account to share his journey and connect with other stroke survivors.
In a remarkable turnaround, McAvoy is now back to his athletic pursuits. Four months after the stroke, he took part in a one-mile challenge run, and just hours before speaking with CBS News, he walked the Swinging Mile at Grandfather Mountain, the highest suspension footbridge in the country.
"It's a family I never knew I had or expected to have at this age," McAvoy said. "It's just amazing to see how far we've all come and are still going." Despite struggling with depth perception and mobility issues, McAvoy is determined to continue his journey towards recovery.
"I didn't know if I'd ever see again," he reflected. "With everything going on, I never thought I would hear myself speak again. When you're in that quiet for so long, you really start thinking about life and what matters and what doesn't." McAvoy's story is a testament to the human spirit's capacity for resilience and determination.
just read this incredible story of Frue McAvoy who was literally paralyzed by a stroke at 36 and now he's back to running marathons... that's some next level recovery 
his positivity and willpower are truly inspiring 
rachel's role in his recovery can't be understated either, they're an amazing couple 
. I mean, can you imagine being stuck on one of those things for seven days straight? It's a miracle he didn't get pneumonia or something. And now he's gotta deal with depth perception issues? That's gonna be a real challenge for someone who was already into fitness. Maybe this whole "recovery" thing is just a bunch of hype, and he'll end up being one of those guys who can't even walk straight anymore 
.
He's literally come back from the dead... I mean, physically. It's crazy to see how far he's come in just a few months! The fact that he had to relearn basic motor skills is mind-blowing. But what really gets me is his positivity and determination. He's still pushing himself despite all the challenges he faces. 
It's truly inspiring to see someone who was told they'd never walk or speak again, now doing a one-mile run and walking suspension bridges. His Instagram account is also super insightful into what stroke survivors go through, so I think it's awesome that he's using his platform to share his story. 
. What I find most inspiring is how supportive Rachel has been throughout this journey 
. She's definitely helped him through some tough times 
...like, that's some crazy stuff! He's def an inspiration for anyone who's ever faced a setback. 
. I mean, he was just living his best life with Rachel, having fun, watching football, and then BAM! He's fighting for his life 
. But the fact that he's now back to running and doing all these crazy athletic things? It's insane 
. And the way Rachel has been supporting him throughout all of this? 
. He's literally proof that you're never too young or old to overcome adversity 
.