Anyone who has been around [autotag]Eric LeGrand[/autotag] for any length of time knows that he is an inspiration. But what few don’t really understand is that in the tragedy and triumph that is his life story, there are real moments of frustration.
There are also moments of incredible ambition and dreams as well.
This week, former NBA player Rex Chapman posted a video tease of his interview with LeGrand that will air on CNN+. During the interview with Chapman, the question was asked of LeGrand about his dreams – his actual literal dreams while he sleeps.
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The former Rutgers football player, paralyzed in October of 2020 while making a special teams play against Army, said he dreams about being able to walk:
“In my dreams, I’m not in a wheelchair. I’m walking – and sometimes there are limitations. There’s limitations – sometimes I’m walking and I get to a staircase and I’m like ‘Can I walk up these stairs?’ or ‘Can I catch this football?’ or ‘Can I throw this ball?’ It happened and I’m never in a wheelchair,” LeGrand told Chapman in the CNN+ interview.
Chapman then asked LeGrand about his daily struggles, the little things that are difficult following his spinal cord injury and paralysis.
The second episode of “Rex Chapman” on @CNNplus dropped today — and @EricLegrand52 tells me when he dreams, he’s never in a wheelchair. What a guy.
Here’s your Monday inspiration… pic.twitter.com/jNa3ftct1y
— Rex Chapman🏇🏼 (@RexChapman) April 11, 2022
It was a real and humbling answer from LeGrand, a true glimpse into his life.
“The two smallest things I’d say…number one is temperature regulation. My central nervous system is all hacked up with the spinal cord injury. Most of the time, I’m freezing cold. My body temperature has a hard time regulating so being cold – I keep my room at 80 degrees and I have a heater I sit on top of most of the time just be able to regulate. I don’t sweat Summertime – I have to be careful in the sun; my body doesn’t sweat anymore,” LeGrand said.
“Number two is itching. Oh my goodness, when I get an itch on my face- you never realize how much you scratch. Your ears, your nose, your face.”
LeGrand hasn’t let the injury slow down his life – or his ever-present smile. He is a frequent keynote and inspirational speaker. In 2012, he signed a contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers who at the time were coached by Greg Schiano, his coach at Rutgers.
In addition to his speaking engagements, LeGrand is a media personality who provides commentary on several platforms affiliated with Rutgers football. He has also opened up his own business, LeGrand Coffee.
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A brick-and-mortar location for LeGrand Coffee is coming to New Jersey this year.
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