A hockey player paralyzed in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash has received spinal surgery in Thailand that he hopes will restore some of his movement.

Doctors on Monday implanted an epidural stimulator in Ryan StraschnitzkiB次元官网网址檚 spine.

The 20-year-old from Airdrie, Alta., is to remain in Thailand until early December.

B次元官网网址淭he doctor said it went very well. HeB次元官网网址檚 quite optimistic,B次元官网网址� Michelle Straschnitzki said after receiving an update from her husband, who travelled with their son to Asia.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 got a long couple of weeks for recovery, and heB次元官网网址檚 pretty well out of it right now.B次元官网网址�

Straschnitzki was one of 13 players who were injured when an inexperienced truck driver blew through a stop sign and into the path of the Saskatchewan junior hockey teamB次元官网网址檚 bus in April 2018. Sixteen others on the bus died.

Paralyzed from the chest down, Straschnitzki has said he isnB次元官网网址檛 expecting a cure but hopes the implant will restore some muscle movement and things such as bladder control.

A small device like a remote control is to send electrical currents to his spinal cord to try to stimulate nerves and move limbs. The implant is to be programmed over the next few weeks to stimulate certain nerves mapped out by surgeons and therapists.

The surgery can cost up to $100,000 and isnB次元官网网址檛 covered by health care or insurance. It is also performed in countries such as the United States and Switzerland, but itB次元官网网址檚 much cheaper in Thailand.

Straschnitzki is hoping to make CanadaB次元官网网址檚 national sledge hockey team and go to the Paralympics. He took his hockey sled to Thailand with him to stay sharp during his stay.

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B次元官网网址淏efore he went in, he texted a guy out here about ice time for Wednesday,B次元官网网址� his father said on Twitter just before the surgery. B次元官网网址淗a, ha. What a kid.B次元官网网址�

The Canadian Press

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