“Theodore had just passed her driving license. He had to start football at Cégep. He was going to start living these dreams. It’s over, that ”sobbed her mother, Vania Pacheco.
On June 30, Théodore Côté, 17, went to the girlfriend of a friend. It’s late at night. No problem, he said to himself. He hasn’t seen this friend for a long time, the opportunity is too good to enjoy the evening.
It is dark. Adolescents decide to bathe in the outdoor pool. Théodore plunges. A maneuver he has made hundreds of times. Even thousands, since his family has a similar swimming pool. “I dived. My legs went directly above my head, ”recalls Théodore, from her hospital bed.
Photo provided by the family
Théodore at her end -of -studies ball
His life changed into a jump. That evening, he became quadriplegic.
“I floated on the surface of the water. My body no longer moved. I was in very pain. All I could do was move my head to call my friends for help, ”says Gatineau’s teenager.
At the start, Théo’s friends believed that he was joking, as he used to. When they understood the urgency of the situation, they jumped into the water, transported it to the pool terrace. “If his friends had not been there, I would not have any more sons today. Théo would no longer be there, ”realizes his mother, still in shock.
Lying, Théo is unable to move. Her mother receives an appeal around midnight: her son has no sensation, from neck to foot. “It was unreal. It was just a nightmare. I just wanted to wake up, ”says Vania Pacheco in tears.
At the Hull Hospital, the observation is clear: two vertebrae of the Théo’s neck compressing his spinal cord. He must undergo an operation within 24 hours to preserve the slightest chance of moving his members again. We do not practice the intervention required in Gatineau. He will have to be transferred to the Sacré-Coeur hospital in Montreal.
Photo provided by the family
Théodore side four hours after her operation
After the operation, Théo is transferred to intensive care. It has pneumonia. Due to his paralysis, he is unable to cough. Doctors must make pulmonary thrusts to allow him to release his secretions.
“His condition would get worse. I didn’t know what to do anymore. I just wanted to hug him, cure him, erase everything, ”says Vania Pacheco.
A jostled life
At the beginning of August, Théodore Côté was still at the Sacré-Coeur hospital in Montreal. It follows a rehabilitation. His spinal cord has not been completely affected, all hope of finding a certain mobility is not dead.
“The doctor told us that it can take three months, six months, a year. Or even that her mobility never returns, ”explains Vania Pacheco, nodding. “We go there a victory at a time. We especially hope that he finds the autonomy of his hands. »»
It is a shock to see him unable to eat alone. To wash. To have to do everything for a young man who was so independent.
Vania Pacheco
“I tell myself that at least, I have it with me. Otherwise, I could never have passed over it, ”she says.
Photo provided by the family
Théodore, in the company of her mother, Vania Pacheco
In the minds of Théo’s parents, the next steps are jostling. They try to imagine the future of their son.
Inside the family home, 20 steps separate the upper floor on the ground floor, and 10 steps from the basement. It could seem banal, a few weeks ago, but these are so many obstacles that separate Théo from a normal life.
Parents are therefore looking for a new family nest on a floor. They prepare for the worst, clinging to the hope of seeing their son of new mobile.
“Several people write to me to tell me that their loved ones experienced a similar situation. They tell me that after a year, they were walking. Others have never got there, but still managed to live a good life. They have children, are married. It encourages us a lot, ”says Vania Pacheco.
The support of a community
Théodore Côté dreamed all her life of a football career. His only dream today is to manage to move his hands and his fingers.
Every day, for three hours, he follows physio and occupational therapy sessions. The therapists push against his biceps and his triceps, which he can move, and must force him in the opposite direction.
Photo provided by the family
Théodore during his first day of physiotherapy
“It’s rough Admits Théo without detour. “But it’s correct, I’m strong. I am a football player: to push hard, I am used to it, ”he says, smile sly on his lips.
If Théo had registered at the Cégep de l’Outaouais, it is only to join the Griffons football team. “Otherwise, I would have gone directly to make a DEP [diplôme d’études professionnelles] in plumbing or electricity. I’m a mobile guy, ADHD: I have to move, I always have to do something with my hands, “he explains.
His chances of practicing a manual profession are now thin. Those of playing football are downright zero.
Mourning is big for a young person, whose pride of having been selected by a collegiate team was immense. As we discuss, the griffins start their summer camp.
“I had done the spring camp with them, it had been very well. I felt lucky, to be chosen by my CEGEP, ”admits the defensive line player, extended in his bed.
It’s going to be a big step to go [mentalement].
Theodore side
On the field, Théo appeared to Nick Bosa, from the 49ers of San Francisco, a brain and combative player. “The mothers of other players were going to see him and said to him:” Théo, protects my guy on the field. ” He was proud to defend their backs, ”recalls Vania Pacheco.
Today, Théo needs to be defended. The support of his friends and former teammates transports him. In recent weeks, he has received numerous visits, including that of his former coach, from the secondary school.
This one arrived with his sweater decorated with number 95. “The school withdrew him. No one will ever wear it again, ”reveals Théo, with pride.
Photo provided by the family
Théodore’s number 95 will be withdrawn from the secondary school secondary school in Gatineau.
To the teammates with whom he could never have evolved, at the Griffons, Théo addresses a simple message. “Go win the golden bowl for me. I won’t be there, but I know you can do it, ”he encourages them.
In the middle of this awful drama, Théo savor a small victory. More than $ 65,000 was raised on his behalf, on the Gofundme socio -financing platform. This sum will allow the family to obtain the specialized equipment necessary for Théo’s activities, in addition to covering family expenses, relocated to Montreal for the duration of their rehabilitation.
“I can’t come back to see all the support I have, not just gofundme, but also people who contact me,” said Théo.
Really, I couldn’t ask more.
Theodore side
Our conversation is coming to an end. Thédore has never shown the slightest sign of sadness. Defeat. On the contrary, he even allows himself to laugh at his mother, who at times, struggles to keep the goal of the camera towards his son.
“My parents repeat to me every day that they do not understand how I do to be so strong. I have a good morale since the accident, I do not let negativity go for me. »»
Before hanging up, Théo wishes to deliver a final message.
“We often hear in the news that the world is over, is ruined. All the support I have, it proves the opposite. There is still beautiful in this world. I want people to know. »»
