Nelson Thomas says he has plans to try out for the Paralympics this year.
One year after his near-fatal car crash, The Challenge star Nelson Thomas got his leg partially amputated as a result of the injuries he sustained.
The 35-year-old reality star took to social media to share an update on his progress from his hospital bed to then home.
On TikTok, Thomas posted a video of his amputated leg, bending his knee for the first time post-surgery.
"The moment I moved my knee for the first time, witnessing it in person, was truly remarkable. #march5th #amputee #belowkneeamputee #blessed," Thomas captioned the video.
He added, "I'm truly blessed!"
In one clip, Thomas speaks to the medical staff helping to bandage up his leg, telling them, "I'm already talking to a coach about the Paralympics in August 2024, this year. What do y'all think?"
Thomas later shared a video of himself at home, joking, "At least they let me keep my good foot, right?"
He went on to share a more serious update, noting that it had been a "hard three days" and saying that the first two days post surgery had him in "a lot of pain."
"Trust me, people, it is weird. It is weird," he said of having an amputated leg. "I still don't know how I feel, but right now I know that I'm home and I'm happy and that's all that matters. I'm just gonna take it day by day, and we'll see how things go."
On March 5, 2023, Thomas was rescued from a flaming car by friend and Minnesota Vikings player K.J. Osborn and three strangers in Austin, Texas. In the months that followed, Thomas was in and out of the hospital numerous times and underwent six surgeries before ultimately deciding to amputate his leg.
Thomas was also charged with driving while intoxicated during the accident.
"What sucked the most is that what I had to deal with is that, 'Nelson, you caused this to yourself. He blessed you with this opportunity, and you slammed the door in your own face,'" Thomas told People of the situation. "Do you know how many times I got to look at myself in the mirror and I blame myself for everything?"
He added that after going to therapy, he is "at peace" with the situation.
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