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Devin Johnson was a rising star in the sport of Mixed Martial Arts. A motivated hard-working member of Team Alpha Male, Johnson trained intensively at Sacramento's downtown gym, Ultimate Fitness, owned by Urijah Faber. This portrait was photographed in Marysville by Jonathan Trujillo on May 22, 2011. -
Devin Johnson, center, is shown with his teammate, Freddie Bigg, left, and his manager, Dave Heirschbein, right, before a fight in Rancho Cordova against Matthew Brummer on April 14, 2012. -
On May 14, 2012 Devin Johnson suffered a devastating accident while training for his last amateur fight before his professional debut. This portrait of Devin Johnson photographed in Marysville by Jonathan Trujillo on May 22, 2011. -
A CT scan of Devin Johnson's neck illustrates injury to his 4th and 5th vertebrae causing spinal cord injury. Photo courtesy of UC Davis Medical Center with permission from Devin Johnson. -
An X-ray of Devin Johnson's neck taken immediately after a five hour surgery. Neurosurgeon Dr. Kee Kim removed a spinal disc in JohnsonÕs neck and put in a cadaver bone graph with a plate and screws. This would act as a permanent neck brace to support the loss of his fractured spinal disc. His injury is considered an incomplete spinal injury, which is better than the initial diagnosis of a complete spinal injury. Complete spinal injuries almost always mean that the patient will lose all function below the neck. Incomplete spinal injuries are less common and mean that some nerves are able to transmit information between the brain and the body, leaving the possibility of regaining function. Photo courtesy of UC Davis Medical Center with permission from Devin Johnson. -
Devin Johnson is shown during one of his first nights at the rehabilitation center at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in late June of 2012. He is attempting to use an iPad for the first time since the injury. At this point he was relying completely on a ventilator to breathe. With therapy he gradually began breathing on his own again. -
Devin Johnson is shown with his mother, Jacqui Johnson, at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in July of 2012. She is a single mom and took significant time off from work to attend to Johnson while he was hospitalized. Johnson's supporters have created a website where people can donate funds to help their family. www.devinsmiracle.com -
Devin Johnson is shown during his first and only therapy session in a swimming pool at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in July of 2012. He did not like the cold or his inability to control his movements so he decided pool therapy was not for him. With him is his girlfriend, Tayler Miller, left, and a physical therapist. -
Devin Johnson is transferred from his wheelchair to an exercise machine called a shuttle by physical therapist, Joe Ryan, at UC Davis on Jan 18, 2013. "I feel like a frozen piece of meat thawing out," Johnson said. "I'm getting stuff back every day." -
Devin Johnson enjoys working out with weights during a physical therapy session at UC Davis on Jan 18, 2013. The discipline that he cultivated during his time in wrestling and MMA have aided his progress in physical therapy. -
Devin Johnson talks about the ups and downs of his journey at home Jan 11, 2013. In May of 2012 he suffered major spinal cord injuries during a mixed martial arts practice. -
Devin Johnson brushes his teeth at home with his girlfriend and caregiver, Tayler Miller, Jan 11, 2013. He just recently learned to grip well enough to do this on his own. -
Devin Johnson, second from right, needs help accomplishing many daily tasks, including getting a cup of water from his girlfriend, Tayler Miller. ÒIt sucks having to ask for stuff,Ó Johnson said. ÒThatÕs the worst part of this life. I was completely independent before.Ó His former MMA teammate and tattoo artist, Mark Matthews, second from left, takes a water break after tatooing Jeromy Frietag, left, of Sacramento, another former teammate of Johnson's at Electric Tattoo Club in Oak Park February 11, 2013. -
Devin Johnson, right, grimaces in pain as he gets his tattoo worked on by former MMA teammate and tattoo artist, Mark Matthews at Electric Tattoo Club in Oak Park February 11, 2013. Most of his tattoos have deep personal significance, or have roots in his personal history. He has the words "Life Rolls On" tattooed on his right arm, along with a Japanese coy fish, rosary beads, cherry blossoms and more. Before he became paralyzed he said he never would have gotten so many tattoos in such visible areas. Since his injury he has decided to let his personality show through his body art regardless of what others think. -
Devin Johnson, left, gets his tattoo worked on by former MMA teammate and tattoo artist, Mark Matthews at Electric Tattoo Club in Oak Park February 11, 2013. -
Devin Johnson looks away as he gets his arm tattooed by former MMA teammate and tattoo artist, Mark Matthews at Electric Tattoo Club in Oak Park February 11, 2013. -
Devin Johnson shows his neck scar February 14, 2013. -
Devin Johnson got this "Pride Over Pain" tattoo before he was injured. It had great significance to him in his fighting. Now it holds equal significance in his new fight - the one to regain as much function as possible as a quadriplegic. -
Devin Johnson is not afraid to show his authentic self. Though he has a new situation in life he is still a fighter and he's determined to exceed all medical expectations of him with his progress.
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