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Asher Macdonald |
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Asher Macdonald |
Growing up as the eldest of 3 brothers, and son to a father of fabled Scottish stoism and ferocity, Asher quickly developed the strength of character and leadership abilities that have stayed with him throughout his life. In a dog eat dog atmosphere, it was required to never show weakness and think outside the box.
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As a counterbalance to this Highlander childhood, Asher was raised Jewish (through his Mother), and as such developed an integral moral code and commitment to humility. Constant interaction with family and promotion of the culture further ingrained empathetic and emotional intelligence into Asher's perspective of the word.
Being the only one of the brothers to traverse the public school system, Asher also distanced himself from his brothers in terms of his method of thinking and bringing about change.
Asher was a tremendous athlete in his youth, engaging in a wide variety of sports, including; soccer, hockey, baseball, volleyball, squash, tennis, basketball and lacrosse. Most notably, Asher competed at high levels in Soccer.
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Because of his Scottish heritage, Asher grew in size more quickly than the other kids of his age. This, coupled with his inherent intelligence, allowed him to propel to the forefronts of every team he played on. He would spend a good deal of time at the beginning of each game learning the other teams' defense, then exploit it with his natural ability.
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Asher's success in soccer became the dominating presence in his mind in his early teens. Politics he didn't understand and couldn't control often influenced team placements, however his talent reigned supreme at the end of the day. He would never stay where he is, often jumping 2 or 3 divisions ahead of his original placement.
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A potential scholarship and athletic career was cut short for Asher when he was 14 as tragedy struck him.
One of Asher's favourite activities was Martial Arts. Through his life he has participated in Karate, Tae Kwon Do, Kickboxing, Krav Maga, and Judo.
At the age of 14 Asher was heavily practicing Judo in between Soccer. In February of 1997 at a particular session, Asher was placed in a choke hold during a sparring match. Though he repeatedly tapped out to forfeit and have the choke relinquished, his opponent did not immediately let go.
The result culminated 2 weeks later during school. In scientific terms, he suffered a dissection of the Basilar Artery and then a Basilar Arterial Thrombosis. To the average person, this means one of his main arteries feeding the brain stem was pinched almost closed, and a clot formed. The clot prevented blood flow to his brain stem, which resulted in a Brain Stem Stroke. Asher collapsed in school to intense vomiting. He was also completely paralyzed.
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The paralysis he experienced was not due to a laceration of the spinal cord, but because the Brain Stem could not long communicate with the rest of the brain. He was rushed to Rocky View Hospital where he underwent a CAT SCAN and Spinal Tap, as the doctors did not immediately know the issue. He was then transferred to the Foothills Hospital and underwent an MRI, which showed he had suffered the Brain Stem Stroke.
The doctor's offered Asher's parents two options: they could consent to experimental surgery with an experimental clot busting drug to give Asher a chance to survive and recover, or they could do there must to treat the tragedy and hope he survives and one day recovers. Asher's fathers best friends at the time were two doctors, a Psychiatrist and Radiologist, and they told him that the reality was the Asher had only one chance to survive. Recovery was an afterthought.
His father made the tough decision and consented to the procedure, and after multiple calls to University Hospitals around North America, the doctors proceeded.
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The procedure was to, basically, poke a hole in Asher's thigh and feed a tube through his veins all the way to his neck. Through that tube, they would insert another line that would administer the clot buster. In summation the surgery went well and the clot was busted. However Asher was left in the ICU completely paralyzed. 3 days later he suffered a massive stroke on his cerebellum.
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The condition Asher had was called Locked-In Syndrome. There are multiple references on the internet and in culture which outline the horrifying nature of the conidition. For instance, the movie "The Diving Bell and the Butterfly" captures the emotion quite well.
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A synopsis of Locked-In is as follows: Asher had full cognitive ability, as sharp and intelligent as ever, but no motor control. He could not even blink his eyelids or breathe on his own. The equivalent would be to imagine being buried alive, unable to move a single muscle but left to fully contemplate your situation. Asher was left completely Locked-In for 3 weeks before he began to show signs of recovery; the faint twitching of a finger, a blink, etc.
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After another few weeks Asher moved from the Neurology ward at the Foothills to the Neurology ward at the Children's Hospital.
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There he began taking strides to recovery faster, gaining a little more movement every day. After 2 months he was in a wheelchair and undergoing 3 forms of intensive therapy every day - physio, occupational, speech. After another few months of therapy, Asher had successfully moved home, progressed past a walker and was now talking, walking, and moving at something near 75% of his prior abilities. Truly remarkable progress from a remarkable young man.
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He did not miss any school other than the last few months of grade 9. The recovery lasted most of the summer, and he attended Western Canada High School on the first day of classes for Grade 10. The good attitude and general ease at which he conducts himself, and what he credits his recovery to, gained him many friends at Western. They watched with joy as he spent the next 3 years recovering to the brink of 100%, competing on the school Volleyball team in all 3 grades.
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One of the many talents he had developed in the hospital was chess, as all he could do was think for a long time, and not only was a prominent figure on the school chess team, also won his city championships and 3rd in the province.
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Asher's tragedy and recovery are a truly amazing story.
Coming out of the ashes gave new perspective and inspiration to Asher. Though he struggled with the emotion of the ordeal, namely having his soccer taken from him, he emerged from the crucible a better person. Very good natured and forgiving, Asher is now known for his straight forward outlook on life. Cutting the bs, as it were, Asher does not waste any time on the pleasantries and doldrums of every day life. Rather he accomplishes what's needed and discards what's not.
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Whether it is political discussion or drama between friends, Asher gets to the point and speaks in a way that every can make sense of. Those who deal with him have been noted to say that they are sometimes stopped mid-rant by his words, as if by epiphany. A voice for reason and ration, Asher has a way of now communicating so that everyone not only hears him, but understands him.
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Many of his family and friends have suggested he take up politics or law, given his tremendous oratory ability. He has interests for neither. In a tragedy of it's own, Asher prefers the simple pleasures in life, the comforts of simplicity and effort where effort is needed. In what can be seen as a paradox, though Asher has a zest for life based on his experience, he is also a prominent supporter of relaxing and taking things slow.
Starting at an early age, Asher began to write. Mostly love poems to girlfriends in school, he learned how to craft language and manipulate words to communicate the meanings in his head. Though he was young and silly, his works were cherished by those fortunate to get them.
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When he was in the hospital, Asher could not write. But he could think. He thought and he thought, and once released from his shell the words began to pour onto paper. Countless half written novels have been discarded, the sum of which would have produced many tremendous stories many times over. A perfectionist at heart, and a fierce competitor, Asher would not keep those which he could not finish. It is most likely the case that if Asher could not sit at a computer and write a story from end to beginning, none would ever come to pass.
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Asher has never spoke of his talent to anyone. His family does not know, nor his friends, for it is his greatest secret. One day, perhaps, he will finish one of his stories - perhaps then the world will have their gift.
Though Asher is only 25, he has lived a rich and adventurous life. He is known to spurts of spontaneity, traveling to LA on a whim, moving to Toronto with no forethought.
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However Asher is a strong advocate of planning, committing large portions of income to savings. He is developing a strong financial base while he is young so that later in life, he and his life can fulfill their dreams of traveling the world and seeing history.
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Asher's story is far from over, and he will continue to write the pages of his life in a way that captivates us all.
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