Army veteran paralyzed after fall at home on Christmas Eve

BOSTON — An Army veteran is paralyzed after falling at his home Tuesday. Aaron Gross is recovering with his family after an eight-hour surgery at Brigham and Women’s Hospital.

Gross, 38, served in the U.S. Army for eight years with a tour in Egypt.

While trying to excel in his education and be the sole provider for his family of three, Gross works at the Plymouth Correctional Facility as a correctional officer. On Tuesday night, his life changed forever.

“I heard a scream for my name, and I ran to the bathroom,” said Brooke Gross, Aaron Gross’ wife of four years. “Something was wrong. He was on the floor paralyzed already. His neck was crimped.”

Aaron and Brooke Gross have two children with a third on the way. Brooke Gross is six months pregnant.

“He has (a) rod and screws placed all in the back of his head, almost midback,” Brooke Gross said. “He will never be able to move his head again.”

Aaron Gross’ older sister, Rashida Branson, immediately drove north from Virginia to see her brother in the intensive care unit.

“When you can use your hands, your feet, you don’t think about those things until I look at my brother,” Branson said.

Branson said Aaron Gross recently experienced neck pain and visited the Veterans Affairs hospital, but it wasn’t alarming.

“He (had) recently gone, yet again,” she said. “They gave him a heat pack and told him it would go away.”

Brooke Gross said her husband is healthy, active and the kindest to his family and friends.

“He worked his butt off, he worked overnights, then would go to school and go to the girls’ cheerleading, gymnastics and have three hours of sleep, work and do it all over again,” Brooke Gross said.

She added that they bought their house two years ago and are probably going to sell it.

"He was our only income. It’s not going to be normal.”

Brooke Gross’ children didn’t want to spend Christmas at home. Instead, they wanted to be with their dad. They took their gifts and unwrapped them next to his hospital bed.

The family has set up a GoFundMe account, hoping it will help pay their medical expenses.

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