Secret alumnus Song Ji-eun and her husband Park Wi honestly opened up about rehabilitation.
On the 20th, the channel 'With Sean' uploaded a video titled "Park Wi, who showed a miracle after being diagnosed with complete paralysis, what are the chances he can stand up?"
That day Sean asked, "I am close with Professor Lee Ji-seon. She used the expression 'an accident came.' She said that so you can let go. How is the situation now?" and asked about Park Wi's current physical condition. In response, Park Wi said, "At first it was a very desperate situation. Among cases of complete paralysis I was diagnosed with complete paralysis. There was a medical judgment that there was no possibility of further improvement. At that time the doctor told me that no matter how much I improved I wouldn't be able to raise my hand this much. He said I would probably have to live relying on a power wheelchair, but now I use a manual wheelchair and I drove here today," recounting the miraculous circumstances.
He said, "I drive, and now I am able to live independently, but in order to live I spent time rehabilitating with all my might. Now my fingers move, but on closer inspection the right hand looks like it doesn't move, but it moves slightly. I exercised by applying force to parts that did not move even when I tried to. It was very painful. It's part of my body, but even when I applied force it didn't respond. Still, I practiced applying force thinking it was working. Through that time, for example this finger returned in two years and the right hand is still in progress, but this was not simply physical rehabilitation; I think psychological rehabilitation was also necessary. Now I am grateful to be able to live independently. I had to live relying on my family, and many people misunderstood. Now I do it alone," he said, revealing that he can perform daily activities by his own strength.
Sean asked, "From the point of view of seeing this, as his wife how is it?" and Song Ji-eun said, "My husband has been very consistent with his exercise. He goes to the gym, wears support devices, and keeps doing exercises to avoid losing muscle. He tries to rehabilitate by pushing the wheelchair himself rather than having others help him when possible, so at first I felt so sorry. I thought, 'If you get help it would be easier, just accept some help.' I looked at him doing rehabilitation with pity. I realized that my thinking was wrong. If I, out of anxiety, help him, I might even suppress his chance to grow. So although he is a bit slower than me and our methods differ somewhat, I changed my mind to wait for and support his way," she said, sharing her realization.
The producers asked, "Did you get any answers from the doctor the last time you went to the hospital?" and Park Wi said, "There was nothing special to tell. Medically, after about a year and a half of recovery from spinal cord injury, dramatic recovery is hard to expect. Doctors can't give nonfactual stories just to offer simple hope, can they? They say, 'You have improved a lot,' and are pleased. Even if you work hard on rehabilitation, the chances that your legs will move or your hands will fully recover seem extremely small. Nevertheless, I am learning ways to carry out daily actions I couldn't do before using my own methods," adding, "I am slow and insufficient, but I am finding new ways to perform daily life, and the sense of accomplishment from that is very big."
In particular Sean mentioned, "Wasn't there a viral thing before? The one where AI made you stand up. How did you feel when you saw that?" referring to an AI video of Park Wi getting up from a wheelchair, drawing attention. Song Ji-eun said, "My husband has a rehabilitation standing device. There is a rehabilitation tool that pulls you up when something is installed on it. Seeing him stand with that was very moving. But seeing him stand with AI was so surprising. I thought, 'If a day like this really comes? A day like this will come, right?' I was overwhelmed. I also felt more hope and longing. It was amazing," she said. Park Wi said, "I was amazed too. Oh, he stands up? My parents called, 'Wi, what is this!'" expressing his joy.
Sean said, "Many people who know Wi probably thought the same. A day like that will surely come, the day he stands up and walks again," offering encouragement. He then mentioned visually impaired YouTuber 'OneShot Hansol' Kim Han-sol's applying to participate in clinical trials by Neuralink led by Elon Musk and asked, "Could there be a day when you can apply and participate? Things we didn't expect are actually happening. If such a day comes, would you apply?" he asked.
In response Park Wi said, "Of course. This year marks 12 years since the accident. Medically they told me I wouldn't be able to stand, but I still live believing I will stand today, tomorrow and the day after. If such an opportunity arises I will gladly apply. Such news comes out occasionally. There's a lot of research on ways to regenerate nerves. There are people who were paralyzed in the lower body like me and stood up after transplant surgery. Of course it's still experimental. So I don't know when, but I view it very positively. Even if I never stand, living with the hope that I will seems to be a huge driving force in my life," he said.
When asked what he would definitely like to do if he stands up again, he said, "I want to play soccer. I've loved soccer for a long time. I want to show Ji-eun me playing soccer. It's an appeal of charm." Song Ji-eun revealed, "He always talked about it, and I was like, 'Really??' but there were no videos or photos at all," and Park Wi joked, "The only thing I'm proud of is my soccer pride. But I can't show that," he quipped.
Regarding things he wants to do with Song Ji-eun, he said, "Really nothing special, the thing I most want to do is hold hands and walk down the street, and I want to try giving a back hug. I was given a back hug while in the standing device. If I really stand up later I will definitely do this. I want to wear a long coat and, in cold winter with people around, wrap Ji-eun in my coat and hug her," he said, expressing his wish.
Song Ji-eun said, "I also want the most ordinary daily life. Holding hands and walking, even on bumpy roads, slowly but with our two feet walking. There's nothing special about that," she said. Hearing this, Park Wi choked up and cried, saying, "I can imagine it. Even though Ji-eun says that, living together must have many difficulties. There will surely be places we want to go but can't. She always says this, and I am so grateful," he said. Song Ji-eun also wiped her eyes, and Park Wi added, "We don't often say things like this when it's just the two of us. Talking like this makes me grateful. They were tears of joy."
[Photo] With Sean
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