More than $90,000 has been raised for Houston-based spine surgeon and musculoskeletal oncologist Rex Marco, MD, who became quadriplegic after a traumatic bike accident, according to local outlet ABC13 Eyewitness News.
In July 2019, Dr. Marco was riding his bike in a park when the tire got stuck. He flipped over the handlebars and landed on his head.
When bystanders came to his aid, Dr. Marco gave them instructions on how to mobilize his body without worsening the injury. He was unable to move or feel people touching him.
"I knew that I might be paralyzed, and it's possible that I might recover function, but it's also possible that I might not," Dr. Marco said in an interview with ABC13. "I wasn't happy about it, but I knew that I would be OK."
Dr. Marco has undergone surgery and attends physical therapy four times a week, often rehabilitating beside patients he has operated on.
Those patients inspire Dr. Marco to remain positive, he told ABC13. He said he is now able to empathize with patients in a way he couldn't before.
While $90,000 has been raised for the surgeon through GoFundMe, family and friends are continuing to raise money for needs that aren't covered by his insurance.
He said he looks forward to returning to work and eventually participating in sports.