Neil Doef upbeat about recovery from spinal cord injury
By Chris Hofley, Ottawa Sun
A devastating spinal cord injury has interrupted Neil Doef's life, but it hasn't derailed it.
Less than six months since a hit during the World Under 17 Championship in Saskatchewan left him paralyzed below the waist, the only thing more impressive than the progress the 18-year-old Smiths Falls native has made, is his attitude.
Hanging out in the living room of the new Smiths Falls bungalow the Doef family was able to buy thanks to an unprecedented outpouring of support across North America, Neil seems every bit the easy-going, polite and quiet teenager he's been described as by friends and family since he was hurt last December.
The only difference now is the wheelchair, a necessary addition still less noticeable than his hair. Otherwise, say parents Bruce and Bobbi-Jean, he's taking on this new challenge the way he's faced everything in his young life: Head on.
Since moving into his new home in April, Neil's day-to-day life has been a mix of physio, rest and slowly integrating himself back into the community that rallied around his family when he needed it most.
"It's been busy, but it's nice to get out of the hospital and just be home and have a room to myself," Doef told the Sun on Tuesday, his attention only occasionally diverted by the hockey highlights on TV.
There isn't the slightest trace of bitterness in Neil's voice when he talks about his injury and the challenges that lie ahead. He's determined but patient, knowing progress will be slow but also aware he's already proven doctors wrong.
SOME MOVEMENT
Neil, a popular forward for the Smiths Falls Bears Junior A club, has regained some feeling and movement in his lower body and can do what Bobbi-Jean described as brief periods of "limited, assisted walking." He can do that for a few minutes a day with the help of a walker, a remarkable achievement in itself considering the nature of his injury.
"He's getting some things back that (doctors) said from our early prognosis would never happen," Bobbi-Jean said.
The injury itself was a burst fracture of Neil's seventh cervical vertebra, an injury that compressed his spinal cord and required a surgical reconstruction of the C-7. It's considered an incomplete spinal injury.
"We just have to wait and see what kind of damage is left," said Bobbi-Jean.
For his part, Neil's sole focus is looking forward and getting better, shrugging with a smile and glancing at his parents to fill in the details of the medical stuff. He shrugs again when asked how he's avoided feelings of anger or bitterness.
"I don't know, I guess it could be worse," Neil said. "I've been happy with the progress I've been making and I'm focusing on the positives."
Dad Bruce said being at the Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and seeing what others are going through hit home for the whole family.
"You see a lot there," he said. "There's people with no arms, no legs, brain damage. Looking at all that in the whole, big picture, yes, (Neil's injury) is bad, but there's always somebody worse."
Neil nods at that.
"It definitely does put things into perspective," he said.
Despite the months in hospital, Neil will still graduate from high school in June but will return next year to work on a few extra credits. In the fall of 2016, he'll head to Princeton University, where he had committed to a hockey scholarship for this coming year before he was hurt. The game plan is the same, just altered a bit. But again, Neil preaches patience.
Every little bit of sensation he gets back is a massive win and each win pushes him toward the next milestone.
'DAY BY DAY'
"I'm just focused on the small things and taking it day by day," said Neil, who will carry the 2015 Pan Am Games torch through his hometown on July 2. "That's what pushes you to want to become better and be able to achieve things, just those little, positive signs."
Neil continues to follow hockey, though his parents admit they watch the sport a bit differently these days. But they don't blame the sport, they know Neil could have been injured away from the rink, that it just so happened to be on a play he had completed easily a thousand times before.
"An accident happened and accidents happen," said Bruce. "It was hockey with Neil but it could have been anything."
Today the play that led to his injury is in the rear-view mirror. Neil isn't interested in looking back or pondering the "what ifs," and so neither are his folks.
"We've followed Neil's lead up until now and we're going to keep doing that," said Bobbi-Jean.
Doefs thankful, to everyone
When Neil Doef and his parents, Bruce and Bobbi-Jean are asked how they feel about the support they've received since Neil suffered a spinal cord injury playing hockey, the words don't come easily.
The gratitude is so great, said Bobbi-Jean. It's impossible to adequately put into words, impossible to thank everyone who has helped them without missing someone.
What initially started as a local fundraiser organized by a group of close family friends, dubbed the Friends of Doef, quickly exploded into something much bigger.
It's not just the financial support, either, though the $200,000-plus raised has been a massive help. It's the message, the visits, the phone calls offering help with every aspect of a life suddenly altered. Bobbi-Jean carries around the messages of support she received on one of the iPads purchased for the Doefs by a family in Saskatchewan.
"You can't describe it, I've tried," she said. "It's overwhelming ... I just know we'll never be able to thank everyone, but it isn't for a lack of trying."
Neil received phone calls of support from the likes of Don Cherry, P.K. Subban and Jonathan Toews and plenty of hockey swag including an autograph World Juniors Team Canada jersey, now a prized possession.
"Both communities, my home community and the hockey community, have been really amazing," said Neil. "The support has been tremendous."
For more on Neil’s story and donation information, visit the DoefStrong page on Facebook.
Twitter: @chrishofley
UPCOMING DOEFSTRONG FUNDRAISERS
Fundraising continues to support Neil Doef and his family though the DoefStrong trust at Scotiabank
Less than six months since a hit during the World Under 17 Championship in Saskatchewan left him paralyzed below the waist, the only thing more impressive than the progress the 18-year-old Smiths Falls native has made, is his attitude.
Hanging out in the living room of the new Smiths Falls bungalow the Doef family was able to buy thanks to an unprecedented outpouring of support across North America, Neil seems every bit the easy-going, polite and quiet teenager he's been described as by friends and family since he was hurt last December.
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| Doef's new Home. |
Since moving into his new home in April, Neil's day-to-day life has been a mix of physio, rest and slowly integrating himself back into the community that rallied around his family when he needed it most.
"It's been busy, but it's nice to get out of the hospital and just be home and have a room to myself," Doef told the Sun on Tuesday, his attention only occasionally diverted by the hockey highlights on TV.
There isn't the slightest trace of bitterness in Neil's voice when he talks about his injury and the challenges that lie ahead. He's determined but patient, knowing progress will be slow but also aware he's already proven doctors wrong.
SOME MOVEMENT
Neil, a popular forward for the Smiths Falls Bears Junior A club, has regained some feeling and movement in his lower body and can do what Bobbi-Jean described as brief periods of "limited, assisted walking." He can do that for a few minutes a day with the help of a walker, a remarkable achievement in itself considering the nature of his injury.
"He's getting some things back that (doctors) said from our early prognosis would never happen," Bobbi-Jean said.
The injury itself was a burst fracture of Neil's seventh cervical vertebra, an injury that compressed his spinal cord and required a surgical reconstruction of the C-7. It's considered an incomplete spinal injury.
"We just have to wait and see what kind of damage is left," said Bobbi-Jean.
For his part, Neil's sole focus is looking forward and getting better, shrugging with a smile and glancing at his parents to fill in the details of the medical stuff. He shrugs again when asked how he's avoided feelings of anger or bitterness.
"I don't know, I guess it could be worse," Neil said. "I've been happy with the progress I've been making and I'm focusing on the positives."
Dad Bruce said being at the Ottawa Hospital Rehabilitation Centre and seeing what others are going through hit home for the whole family.
"You see a lot there," he said. "There's people with no arms, no legs, brain damage. Looking at all that in the whole, big picture, yes, (Neil's injury) is bad, but there's always somebody worse."
Neil nods at that.
"It definitely does put things into perspective," he said.
Despite the months in hospital, Neil will still graduate from high school in June but will return next year to work on a few extra credits. In the fall of 2016, he'll head to Princeton University, where he had committed to a hockey scholarship for this coming year before he was hurt. The game plan is the same, just altered a bit. But again, Neil preaches patience.
Every little bit of sensation he gets back is a massive win and each win pushes him toward the next milestone.
'DAY BY DAY'
"I'm just focused on the small things and taking it day by day," said Neil, who will carry the 2015 Pan Am Games torch through his hometown on July 2. "That's what pushes you to want to become better and be able to achieve things, just those little, positive signs."
Neil continues to follow hockey, though his parents admit they watch the sport a bit differently these days. But they don't blame the sport, they know Neil could have been injured away from the rink, that it just so happened to be on a play he had completed easily a thousand times before.
"An accident happened and accidents happen," said Bruce. "It was hockey with Neil but it could have been anything."
Today the play that led to his injury is in the rear-view mirror. Neil isn't interested in looking back or pondering the "what ifs," and so neither are his folks.
"We've followed Neil's lead up until now and we're going to keep doing that," said Bobbi-Jean.
Doefs thankful, to everyone
When Neil Doef and his parents, Bruce and Bobbi-Jean are asked how they feel about the support they've received since Neil suffered a spinal cord injury playing hockey, the words don't come easily.
The gratitude is so great, said Bobbi-Jean. It's impossible to adequately put into words, impossible to thank everyone who has helped them without missing someone.
What initially started as a local fundraiser organized by a group of close family friends, dubbed the Friends of Doef, quickly exploded into something much bigger.
It's not just the financial support, either, though the $200,000-plus raised has been a massive help. It's the message, the visits, the phone calls offering help with every aspect of a life suddenly altered. Bobbi-Jean carries around the messages of support she received on one of the iPads purchased for the Doefs by a family in Saskatchewan.
"You can't describe it, I've tried," she said. "It's overwhelming ... I just know we'll never be able to thank everyone, but it isn't for a lack of trying."
Neil received phone calls of support from the likes of Don Cherry, P.K. Subban and Jonathan Toews and plenty of hockey swag including an autograph World Juniors Team Canada jersey, now a prized possession.
"Both communities, my home community and the hockey community, have been really amazing," said Neil. "The support has been tremendous."
For more on Neil’s story and donation information, visit the DoefStrong page on Facebook.
Twitter: @chrishofley
UPCOMING DOEFSTRONG FUNDRAISERS
Fundraising continues to support Neil Doef and his family though the DoefStrong trust at Scotiabank
- May 30: Brea Lawrenson benefit concert at the Smiths Falls Legion. Tickets available at the door for $10, show starts at 7.
- June 6: The Smiths Falls Golf and Country Club is hosting the Doef/Bowick-Sandor Charity Golf Tournament to support both the Doef family and Jacqui Bowick-Sandor, who is waiting for a double-lung transplant. To register: lwww.SmithFallsKinsmen.com
- June 11: Doefstrong97, a Facebook group of parents whose sons have played hockey with Neil, will donate proceeds from their nine and dine-style tournament at the Canadian Golf Course in Ashton. Register: https://www.canadiangolfclub.com/eventRegister.aro?eID=929
- June 15: Proceeds from the first annual pro-am tournament hosted by Smiths Falls golfers Brooke and Brittany Henderson will be split between two charities, DoefStrong and Lanark County Support Services.
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