It's hard to realise it's been three years since the Humboldt Broncos of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) were killed in a terrible tragedy in rural Saskatchewan. At the crossroads of Highways 35 and 335, a bus carrying the team, its coaching staff, and management staff collided with a semi-truck trailer that failed to stop at a blinking stop sign.
It's been a horrible three years for the 13 accident survivors to try to bring their lives back to normal. For the most part, though, "normal" will never be the same again. Ryan Straschnitzki, a former Broncos forward, released a video to his social media accounts today of him standing on his own for the first time in 3 years.
Consider how much effort this young man has put in over the last three years. He's had to deal with not only incalculable levels of mental and psychological pain, but he's also had to push himself to the very boundaries of his physique simply to stand on his own two feet. It serves as a sharp reminder to all of us to value our health. This young man has worked hard to reach to this point, and I'm eager to see how far he can progress in his recovery. Would it surprise you to discover that he is standing and walking again at some point?
