It's been a long road to recovery for the star of The Blind Side, Quinton Aaron.
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We reported last month that the actor who portrayed Michael Oher in the Academy Award-winning film collapsed at his home. Over the last several weeks, he has been recovering in the hospital from a spinal stroke.
The actor is now awake and "feeling strong and empowered." In a statement to PEOPLE, he said, "I went through a lot, but I'm focusing on God, my recovery, my family and close friends as well as my career."
Quinton Aaron Is Keeping His Family Close
Aaron's family said in a statement that he is "awake, fully alert, interacting with his family and approved visitors." Aaron has "feeling in his legs" and is "focused on his recovery and successfully doing things like practicing writing, doing puzzles."
The actor also speaks with his family regularly through video calls and text. They say that he and his brother Jarred have become closer since the stroke.
"He's excited about the future opportunities life will present to him," his family says.
Spinal strokes are so rare that only 1% of all strokes fall under the category. According to Cleveland Clinic, they occur when a blood clot or hemorrhage prevents blood from flowing into the spinal cord. They can be fatal or cause disability.
This latest health incident for Aaron follows an upper respiratory infection he suffered in 2019. He was also hospitalized last year for a fever and coughing up blood.
What About Aaron's "Spiritual Wife?"
We also reported a few weeks back that Aaron's family was concerned that a woman named Margarita was presenting herself as the actor's legal wife, meaning she could be making "crucial and life-saving decisions" on Aaron's behalf.
The woman said that she and Aaron "got spiritually married." She says that she does not have power of attorney and has never made medical decisions on the actor's behalf.
TMZ reports that Aaron does "not want to see Margarita at all." In addition, Jarred has filed a restraining order against her. She is listed in the documents as Margaret DeLeon. The order was granted, requiring Margarita to keep her distance from Jarred and his immediate family.
"I haven't done wrong to Quinton," said Margarita. "Quinton would not want this, and Jarred is being selfish."
