To say Ryan Straschnitzki is happy with his new found freedom would be an understatement, according to his mom Michelle.  

Ryan can now take himself almost anywhere he wants to go thanks to recently getting a driver's license and a Nissan Murano which has been modified to drive with hand controls, especially for Ryan.

Ryan was paralyzed from the chest down over a year ago in the Humboldt Broncos bus crash.  His mother says recently he got his specialized license which was quickly followed by the purchase of the car.

"Ryan's been cleared to drive and he's got his license again so he was looking at cars and what he kind of thought would work for him so he chose a Nissan Murano and went to the people at Brasso Nissan and they offered him a really, really good deal and offered to do all the modifications for him."

Michelle says several modifications were made to the vehicle that lets Ryan control it completely with his hands.  

When Ryan went to get his license, Michelle was amazed by how fast the process was.  "It was a very quick process actually," Michelle says.  "He went for his driving lesson, as it were, on a modified vehicle.  Within an hour he did his road test and he even went on Deerfoot with this hand-controlled vehicle and he passed!  It was pretty amazing, I had no idea and I'm still terrified for him but what are you going to do?"

According to Michelle, the joy that Ryan has in having more freedom and more mobility is measurable.  "That's been the biggest leap I think since he's been going to therapy and doing the (sledge) hockey," explains Michelle.  "He's got the biggest smile on his face since he could get back and forth and he's got a lighter wheelchair on order so he can actually be able to bring that into the car with him.  The one he's got now is just too heavy and bulky and he needs someone to help him with that.  But when the other one comes in, he can do pretty much everything himself."

Ryan is still doing rehab several times a week and also takes part in sledge hockey training three times a week, or more when he can get ice time.  The Straschnitzki's recently moved back into their home which was renovated for Ryan's needs.  Michelle says, now that it's been a few weeks, the entire family is adapting well.

"It took a long time to get everyone sorted out and settled.  I'm still not unpacked myself because you take care of everybody else first, but we're really enjoying it an are so thankful to have our own space and our own sense of independence again."

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