Yahoo Lifestyle “The Challenge” Veteran Nelson Thomas to Have Foot Amputated 1 Year After Car Accident
The reality star was involved in a serious car accident in March 2023
MTV
Nelson ThomasNelson Thomas has made the difficult decision to have his foot amputated in the wake of his serious car accident.
The star of MTV's The Challenge has undergone multiple surgeries and spent months in the hospital after he was rescued last March from his flaming car in Austin, Texas, by Minnesota Vikings player K.J. Osborn and three other good Samaritans. But on Sunday, the reality TV personality announced he's opted for amputation, scheduling his surgery on a significant date: March 5, 2004 — exactly a year to the date of his crash.
"March 5, 2023 remains vivid in my memory, a persistent presence in my thoughts," Thomas wrote on Instagram. "I consciously embrace it as the initiation of a new chapter. Opting for amputation, I am determined to own March 5 and redefine its significance in my life."
"Get ready, amputation world! I'm on my way!" he added. "I am scheduled for surgery on March 5, 2024.
Thomas' post included images of his injuries and the accident, as well as an audio of a conversation between him and his doctor, who explained the surgery and answered any questions Thomas had.
The MTV star recalled that he's tried multiple procedures since the accident and it "didn't work out."
"I have to ask myself what kind of life I want to live and the quality of life I want to live," he said, admitting he questioned at first whether it was the right thing to do but had done a lot of research. "I think I'm at peace with it and it's time."
Thomas has been working hard on his recovery, regularly sharing updates with his 288,000 Instagram followers.
Over the weekend, he posted a video of himself working out in the gym. "Let's embrace the challenges, face the storm head on, and conquer adversity. I won't run away. I'll run towards my challenges, leaving a lasting impact that people won't forget...." he wrote in the caption.
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In September, Thomas revealed he was facing a potential ankle amputation after doctors told him it had re-fractured and was not healing.
"Come to find out, where they have the screws and plates, the bone broke. It did not re-heal," he said at the time. "The doctor has laid my options out there. The stage that I’m in right now is called a salvage stage, which [means] either they can salvage my ankle, or they can amputate it."
"This is not going to break me, but goddamn, I’m so over hearing bad news,” Thomas added in the previous video. “I just wanted some good news today."
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