Jérémy Deguire
A journey marked by the determination to regain independence
In September 2023, a serious cycling accident left me paralyzed when a vertebra crushed my spinal cord. After a stay in the hospital, I began my rehabilitation at the Institut de réadaptation Gingras-Lindsay-de-Montréal (IRGLM).
For eight weeks, I worked there with an occupational therapist and a kinesiologist with the goal of being able to perform various everyday tasks: transferring from my wheelchair to the bed, using the toilet, putting on clothes, and so on.
Little by little, we began working on more complex maneuvers, such as transferring from the wheelchair to the floor and back. In this regard, I take great pride in being able to move from one to the other, as I was told that few people manage to do so.
It must be said that my drive for independence constantly motivated me. Beyond simply performing daily actions, I was determined to regain my strength so I could return to my many hobbies and sports activities at the same level.
“I continue to live, stay active, and look forward enthusiastically to a career in architecture.”
Rediscovering What I Loved
Being young and in good physical condition certainly helped me quickly regain the independence I was hoping for. However, without the team at IRGLM, I wouldn’t have been able to resume the activities I loved before my accident: biking, outdoor adventures, skiing, camping, and more.
Of course, these activities are no longer as spontaneous as they once were. For example, I need help securing my feet in the bike’s stirrups. Or while hiking, I need assistance when the wheels of my adapted wheelchair get stuck and spin in place.
Still, regaining my independence and keeping these meaningful activities in my life brings me peace about what happened. In fact, I rarely think about the accident or its consequences. I continue to live, stay active, and look forward enthusiastically to a career in architecture. While I can no longer physically build structures as I had hoped when studying carpentry, I can still design them—and that makes me happy.
Giving Back
My time at IRGLM played a major role in my recovery. The team there was wonderful, and I’ve stayed in touch with several of them. Wanting to give back in my own way, I’ve shared online tutorials for people who may one day find themselves in a similar situation.
For example, I explain how to transfer from a wheelchair to the floor. If these videos can be useful to IRGLM specialists in their mission to restore independence and pride to others, then all the better.
You, too, can support the successful rehabilitation of people of all ages by donating to the REA Foundation.
Jérémy Deguire, 19 years old, architecture technology student at Collège Montmorency and REA Foundation scholarship recipient
