Once a rising Republican star from New York, former Representative Michael Grimm is paralyzed from the chest down following a tragic polo accident, according to friends and supporters who have launched a GoFundMe campaign for his medical expenses.
Grimm, 54, suffered the severe injury when he was tossed off his horse while playing in a polo tournament late last month. He is getting intensive treatment at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation in New Jersey. Close friend and former New York City Council member Vincent Ignizio also posted updates on Grimm’s condition, noting the “miraculous” survival despite the extent of his injuries.
Ignizio also mentioned that the former Congressman had for years been an avid polo player. “It was a passion of his,” Ignizio said, and it would be a test for Grimm to walk again, perhaps in his lifetime, and would take years and come at millions of dollars. The money raised will be going toward his medical care, rehabilitation, and efforts toward the hopeful goal: walking again. Through the grace of God and the amazing medical teams, he has survived against all odds,” a message on the GoFundMe page said, which had raised over $260,000 as of Tuesday.
Grimm, a former Marine and FBI agent, served four years representing a district that included the New York City borough of Staten Island and parts of Brooklyn in Congress. A guilty verdict on tax evasion led him to resign from Congress and to prison for eight months. Grimm was most recently a television host for Newsmax.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams responded, wishing for a full recovery of Grimm, who is a “marine veteran.” It remains unclear what roads are ahead for Grimm, but with the support of friends and the public, he is going to try to restore mobility and rebuild his life.
To Read More: Global