Robyn Andrews is a living, breathing miracle. The 32-year-old-native of St. John’s, Newfoundland, has ridden her way to the top ranks of FEI competition, became the first Newfoundlander to compete at the World Equestrian Games, and now has her sights firmly set on helping Canada’s para-dressage team earn a berth in the 2016 Paralympics. Not bad for someone whom doctors didn’t expect would live to see 13.

A ‘medical misadventure’

At the age of 12, Robyn travelled to Toronto to have a brain tumour removed. Although the initial operation was successful, she subsequently developed pressure in her brain and required a second surgery to correct the problem. In what was termed a “medical misadventure,” surgeons accidently punctured the main artery in her brain, resulting in a massive stroke that left Robyn paralyzed and in critical condition.

“The doctors didn’t really expect her to survive, and if she did make it through the first 24 hours, they said she would likely be a vegetable,” said Robyn’s mother, Diana. “Apparently no other person has ever survived the type of brain insult she had, but survive she did. It took eighteen months of rehab in Toronto before Robyn was even well enough to come back home, but she made it. She missed all of grade eight and half of grade nine, but still managed to graduate with an ‘A’ average just one year late. And just look at my ‘vegetable’ now! The doctors all call her ‘The Miracle.’”

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