After stabilizing him, doctors told the McNeils that the very real possibility existed that Donald might never walk again. The McNeils chose Spaulding as the place for Donald to find hope and recovery.

From day one at Spaulding his care givers made it clear that there was only one goal, Donald would walk out the doors. With little feeling from the neck down and no muscle control on his first day, this seemed to be hopeful at best. Under the care of Dr. Kevin O'Connor and the Spaulding SCI Team, every day Donald would make remarkable progress.

Within weeks of the fateful match, Donald took his first few steps. Eight weeks from the day Donald lay motionless on the mat, he walked out of Spaulding with his family, to the cheers of his care-giving team.

Just eight months from that life-altering match in May 2007, Donald was back in school and under the watchful eye of doctors and his parents. Donald is again back where he loves to be, the wrestling mat. And he is also back to his winning ways, in February 2008 he finished first in the Massachusetts State Sectionals, and in May of 2008 just a year removed from his accident, he won a national tournament. No matter how many matches Donald wins, his greatest triumph will always be to just be able to step back onto the mat.