Nate Quarry. He's a super nice guy (not in the cage though!) He went on to win the title after a spinal fusion! He recently had the XLTDR. He's about seven months post-op now.
If you go to his website there is vid of him doing a TED talk. The audio is choppy due to some mic issues, but it is worth a watch. You get to see him knock out his opponent and win the title AFTER a fusion, which, of course, everyone told him could never happen.
He's a really cool and down to earth guy. He goes around speaking about back pain. He wrote a book too.
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Multiple traumas to spine starting age 13.
1st American to have 6 ADR's in one surgery. C3-4 - C/7, & L5-S1 - L3-4.
Surgery w/ Dr. Clavel, 3/18/13, M6.
Before surgery: severe spinal stenosis C5/C6 (cord "flattened" per stateside doc), + for Hoffman's & Babinsky's.
At time of surgery: 5 yrs MAX before ending up in wheelchair.
Clavel found L5-S1 partially fused. Had to cut it apart to put in M6.
Please excuse brevity - SEVERE carpel tunnel.
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