April 12th started as any other day for 17-year old Jordan Mabbutt, but no one could ever guess how it would end.
"Getting ready for school, taking a shower, looked down, and heard a pop in my neck," explained Mabbutt. "I didn't think very much of it. It hurt throughout the school day, then six hours after that I lost movement in my left hand and then my right hand."
The loss of movement progressed, eventually reaching his legs to the point where it got so severe, he had to be taken to the hospital in an ambulance where he received devastating news.
"He had a spinal stroke, which means part of his vertebrae fell out into his spine," explained Mabbutt's little brother, Phoenix Lara. "That made him quadriplegic, which means he can't move his arms and legs properly."
Only 150 people in the United States have had a spinal stroke and only three of those cases have happened to someone under the age of 18.
"It was very difficult to believe the diagnosis at first because it seems just almost implausible," said Terressa Baldridge, Jordan's Grandmother.
Jordan said at first it was nearly impossible to accept the fact he may never walk again.
"I was really scared, really sad, and really angry. Then after that I just accepted it and decided, hey, this is what's happening, there was no use being sad and scared," said Mabbutt.
By day three his family said they noticed a drastic change.
"My 17-year-old grandson told my daughter that he was going to be ok, and that he could make a wheelchair look good. I knew then that this family is strong and that we are going to get through this," said Baldridge.
While the doctors say his prognosis isn't ideal, he will likely never recover, his family said Jordan's attitude has been an inspiration to them.
"If he can be optimistic so can we. If he can get through this with such a positive attitude and such hope for the future, then it's kind of our job to do the same thing." said Baldridge.
His little brother Phoenix said Jordan helped take care of him growing up, so he decided to return the favor and create a Gofundme page to help give Jordan a better life.
"We would like to get him a mobilization device which lets him stand up and move around," said Phoenix. "We want to make our garage so it's like a little house for him."
While there are many unknowns going into Jordan's future, one thing is certain. He is surrounded by people who love and support him no matter the outcome.
"I am amazingly proud of him. He has become the young man I have always hoped he would become. He is going to get through this because he has so many people that love him and care about him and he lives in a community that does the same," said Baldridge.
If you would like to help Jordan and his family, click here, or you can make a donation at any U.S Bank location, just say it's for Jordan Mabbutt.
