This week I have the absolute honor and privilege to share John Floresca’s journey to recovery from a surfing injury. Almost two years ago John, an avid runner and coach was told that he would not likely regain function in his legs after suffering what is known as Surfer's Myelopathy while surfing in Hawaii. But don't ever tell John what he is, or isn't, capable of unless you want him to completely dismantle those ideas. 

When John was first injured, his prognosis was not great -- that being an understatement. He was told he would remain in a wheelchair with grade A paraplegia: complete paralysis. John was unwilling to accept that as the end and chose to fight despite a lack of hope from physicians. He knew his body and his mental fortitude will get him to dig deep and reach beyond expectations for his diagnosis. He was quickly downgraded to grade C: incomplete motor function below injury level. He recently began riding a stationary bike, something that had he given into his prognosis would never have been in the cards for him.

John not only continues to work hard through his therapies, he has also returned to work in the film industry and most recently finished working through an entire season on the set of Saturday Night Live. He's breaking boundaries and paving the way for others. And through all that, John continues to find joy in helping his friends (myself included) reach their running goals.

John's ultimate goal is to be able to walk again with no definitive timeline, but that doesn't keep him from celebrating every single win until he gets there.