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Topics: Celebrity, Sandra Bullock, Health
Phoebe Tonks
Quinton Aaron, the actor who worked alongside Sandra Bullock in The Blind Side, is now ‘fully alert’ just weeks after battling with a life-threatening threatening condition in intensive care.
Aaron, who acted as former NFL star Michael Oher in The Blind Side in 2009, has been dealing with a slew of health problems since the release of the acclaimed flick, with his most recent illness almost costing the actor his life.
Last month, it was reported by TMZ that the actor was 'fighting for his life' after suffering a serious fall at his home.
According to a GoFundMe set up to help cover his medical bills, Aaron was struck down by a 'severe blood infection.’
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However, in the latest update to his health, his family have revealed to PEOPLE, that he actually suffered from a rare condition called a spinal stroke.
In a message shared directly with the outlet, Aaron himself admitted he was doing much better as he said: "I went through a lot, but I'm focusing on God, my recovery, my family and close friends as well as my career.”
His family also added that he's currently "feeling strong and empowered.”
Just weeks after the actor was placed in intensive care, Aaron is now able to speak with his relatives and FaceTime and text regularly now with his closest inner circle of friends.
"He's excited about the future opportunities life will present to him," the family said.
The Aaron family also said in a statement that Quinton is ‘awake, fully alert, interacting with his family and approved visitors.’
While this a hugely positive development, it is only the beginning of Aaron’s road to recovery, and he is reportedly ‘focused on his recovery and successfully doing things like practicing writing, doing puzzles.’
According to his family, Aaron suffered a spinal stroke, a condition which while similar to a stroke that occurs in the brain, occurs when blood flow to the spine is blocked.
If the spinal cord doesn't receive enough blood, it doesn't get enough oxygen and nutrients, damaging or even killing the cells in the spinal cord.
Northwestern Medicine, revealed it accounts for around 0.3 percent to 1 percent of all strokes in the United States, and can lead to paralysis and sometimes even death if not treated quickly.
The latest health emergency is just one of several to have plagued Aaron in recent years.
It was only in March of last year that the actor was rushed to a hospital due to coughing up blood and running a fever. He was also diagnosed with diabetes in 2021, which spurred him on to lose 200 pounds.