Erika Burns knew something was wrong the day that a bus carrying the Humboldt Broncos collided with a semi-trailer in rural Saskatchewan.

The 20-year-old had been dating Ryan Straschnitzki for about a month and had been texting him on his way to the playoff game in Nipawin, Sask., on April 6.

B次元官网网址淗e didnB次元官网网址檛 say bye or anything and I was wondering because it was getting kind of close to the time he starts getting ready and I wasnB次元官网网址檛 getting anything back,B次元官网网址� Burns said.

B次元官网网址淚 was in a car with a couple of the other girlfriends on the team and they werenB次元官网网址檛 getting anything either so we were kind of wondering. Not long after that we got a call from one of the moms saying the bus was in an accident.B次元官网网址�

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At the time, Burns and her friends thought it was a fender bender. They then learned how serious it was B次元官网网址� 16 people had died and 13 others, including Straschnitzki, were injured.

B次元官网网址淗onestly, I didnB次元官网网址檛 really have much thought. I kind of just panicked and instantly started crying B次元官网网址� Everybody in the car was. We really didnB次元官网网址檛 know what to think.B次元官网网址�

Straschnitzki, who is 19, was paralyzed from the chest down. Now heB次元官网网址檚 focused on physiotherapy and his dream of playing on the national sledge hockey team. He asked Burns to move in with him and his family at the Wingate Hotel, dubbed the B次元官网网址淪trazgate,B次元官网网址� in his hometown of Airdrie north of Calgary.

Six months later, Burns is taking a business course at Bow Valley College in Calgary and has been StraschnitzkiB次元官网网址檚 constant companion B次元官网网址� including during a recent trip to a sports awards ceremony in Ottawa and a day spent touring Parliament Hill with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

Despite the changes, she says heB次元官网网址檚 still the same guy she was set up with last March.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 different but itB次元官网网址檚 easy enough. He kind of gets frustrated when I have to help him with stuff. He doesnB次元官网网址檛 feel like he should be needing that help but I always reassure him itB次元官网网址檚 not a problem,B次元官网网址� Burns said.

B次元官网网址淭he best part is just being close to him, seeing him every day.B次元官网网址�

StraschnitzkiB次元官网网址檚 life has been a whirlwind the past six months and he realizes he needs somebody to help him.

B次元官网网址淚 mean obviously I need some people to rely on at some points but, for the most part, IB次元官网网址檓 becoming more independent, getting stronger and playing sledge hockey.B次元官网网址�

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Canadian wheelchair athlete Rick Hansen was one the first people to visit Straschnitzki while he was in hospital in Calgary. Hansen told him thereB次元官网网址檚 more to a person than their legs and encouraged him to keep pushing through.

B次元官网网址淚 almost kind of want to take the torch from Rick Hansen and do something that inspires people to never give up and go through that other door B次元官网网址� not the one that closed on you,B次元官网网址� said Straschnitzki.

B次元官网网址淥bviously itB次元官网网址檚 a long-term goal and itB次元官网网址檚 going to take almost the rest of my life but IB次元官网网址檓 willing to do it.B次元官网网址�

Straschnitzki has been approached about public speaking and to be part of a new reality show similar to B次元官网网址淧imp My RideB次元官网网址� where a vehicle can be modified for his specific needs.

ItB次元官网网址檚 part of a new normal for Straschnitzki.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a whirlwind. I know IB次元官网网址檓 not used to that kind of stuff but IB次元官网网址檓 starting to get used to things and learning how to handle myself.B次元官网网址�

Bill Graveland, The Canadian Press

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