Hoa Le knows how to improvise. As an internal medicine resident at Loma Linda University Medical Center, long hours and ill patients continually challenge him to find ways to thwart sickness as his paralysis challenges him to find ways to navigate the three different hospitals he serves.

Married for only six days, the 29-year-old physician suffered a spinal infarction on May 30, 2003. The spine stroke seems to be related to a slip and fall on rocks near a beach in Hawaii where he was honeymooning with his wife. Over a period of time between 45 to 75 minutes after the fall, he could feel the progressive symptoms of paralysis creeping up on him.

After spending several days on the neurosurgery intensive care unit at Maui Memorial Hospital, he transferred to Loma Linda University Medical Center’s 6300 rehab unit. Here he spent nearly two months as a patient in the same hospital where he had just done part of his first two years of residency serving in the internal medicine department.

A year after leaving Loma Linda’s rehab unit, Le still didn’t know what he was going to do.

“There was a huge sense of loss,” remembers Le. “I went from being on call and running to the ICU to not being able to sit up in bed on my own.”

During his time off he realized the power of choice. “You can choose to do one of three things; passively let yourself fade away; aggressively want to not live; or you can get tired of having a victim mentality. That’s what I did. I told myself ‘I’m really tired of this—I’m going to take back my life, all of it.’ And that empowers you.”

With the help of Daniel Giang, M.D., director of the residency program, he resumed his third year of the residency he started in June 2001 at Loma Linda University Medical Center at the beginning of September 2004. Now he zips around the halls of three different hospitals; LLUMC, the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial VA Medical Center, and Riverside County Hospital.

“There’s a lot of problem solving,” says Le of his rounds now. “I was fearful of how I was going to examine patients, how they would react to me. And there are moments of stress, but it’s the same mentality that got me back into medicine, which is such a big part of me. You adapt.”

Le drives the same car he had, only equipped with a set of hand controls that function a mechanical lever connected to the gas and brake pedals. His wheelchair is easily assembled. He has mastered the art, breaking it down in 60 seconds and able to stow it and be on his way to the next hospital in his car.

The life-changing stroke altered more than just the way Le gets around.

“I was definitely burnt out,” he says of his first two years of residency. “Now it’s all fresh again.” And with the added perspective of being a patient for two months, Le possesses an insight that amplifies his bedside manner.

Le’s indomitable spirit and positive attitude push through the door ahead of him as he enters any room. He exudes an energy that connects with those around him. Looking back on it all, Le is tremendously grateful for the support of his wife, a pediatrician, who helps sustain his positive attitude.

“People externalize too much, blaming outside things,” remarks Le. “There are a lot of things that are in your hands. Your free will affects how you see the world. The nobility in it is to know that you can at least try.”