Mihai Nesu: The footballer, the victim of cruel fate, the fighter

A 5-hour operation and 4 days of unconsciousness later, Nesu awoke to the news that his life was out of danger. However, the relief of being alive was quickly replaced with a chilling realization – Nesu couldn’t feel any movement in his arms and legs.

Paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair – that’s the nightmare Nesu woke up to.

From a footballer in the pink of health to an accident victim destined to spend the rest of his life in a wheelchair, from a freely moving soul to one that couldn’t even scratch his nose due to absolutely no movement in his arms and head – Nesu’s life had taken a dramatic u-turn, one that could shatter a person mentally and physically.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is another danger that faces victims of tragedy, as the emotional scars of the turmoil take control of the victim’s psyche.

But Nesu’s strong character and unstoppable will to live saw him shake off the accident and bounce back, and soon he was able to communicate with fans through a gadget designed specifically for his needs.

The fans did their part as well, going to extreme lengths to show their support for their fallen hero. Through flags bearing inspirational messages to letter and messages wishing Nesu a positive life, through players dedicating every goal to Nesu to fans wearing scarves and t-shirts bearing his name to chanting his name in every match since – supporters and teammates have shown that they haven’t forgotten Nesu.

These days, Nesu spends his time working for his foundation, the Mihai Nesu Foundation, helping people who suffered a similar fate as him. Help has arrived in the form of fellow footballers Wesley Sneijder, Kevin Strootman, Michael Vorm and Dries Mertens, who have all played their part through donations and training sessions for the foundation’s youth team.

“Recovery conditions in Holland are way better than in Romania. That’s why I’d like to move things over there too,” explains the former Steaua Bucharest player about his foundation.

In case of spinal injuries, it could take years for the patient to show even the slightest of movements. There is hope and there is realism.

And then there is Mihai Nesu, an extraordinary man who met with an extraordinary fate, and still came out on top.

When life gives you lemons…