SPOKANE, Wash. — A former Coeur d’Alene Hockey Academy player who broke his neck during a hockey game more than a year ago will achieve his biggest goal when he walks across the stage at his high school graduation.
Jackson Drum sustained a severe spinal injury when he lost an edge while chasing down a puck and went head-first into the boards. Doctors said most people would not have survived the injury and told him he may never walk again.
After months of intense physical therapy, Drum is preparing to graduate from his high school in Alexandria, Minnesota.
“I would say that it was my very first goal when I got injured is when I wanted to walk at graduation,” Drum said. “I knew that I was going to walk again because I always had hope.”
The Minnesota native was pursuing his hockey dreams in Coeur d’Alene when the accident occurred. He attended school virtually while undergoing physical therapy.
“It’s kinda like how mentally strong I am to have to deal with it every day,” he said. “It’s a struggle. You know you see everyone else having a lot more fun, and it’s like ‘Oh I have to go to physical therapy.'”
Drum relied on his support system throughout recovery, including mentors and the hockey community.
“Mostly just never giving up on myself and like always having hope and all the support from others too,” he said. “The hockey community helped me through a lot. I got to meet a lot of great guys in the NHL too.”
Now back in his hometown, Drum admits to some nervousness about graduation day.
“I’m excited,” he said. “I’m just terrified of falling.”
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