top of page

Drew's Journey

Discover Drew's story, his adventures, and why he continues to inspire us. Get a glimpse into his world and the impact he has made.

The Accident

On March 26, 2010, 15-year-old Drew Clayborn, a sophomore at Walled Lake Central High School, suffered a catastrophic C1-C2 complete spinal cord injury while attempting a backflip in the school hallway. Drew, an active student involved in football, basketball, marching band, and other activities, had been practicing the backflip for the school musical. Tragically, the attempt resulted in a life-altering injury. Immediate assistance came from Deputy Liaison Eric Overall and math teacher and football coach Nebojsa Stojkovic, who were nearby. Their quick actions, including administering CPR until EMTs arrived, were critical in stabilizing Drew. Their efforts likely made the difference between life and death, preventing potential brain damage or cognitive failure from such a severe injury near the brain stem. Once EMTs arrived, Drew was taken to Huron Valley Hospital, where he awaited a helicopter for emergency transport. His father, LeDon, made the critical decision to send him to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor over DMC in Detroit. Drew spent the following three months adjusting to his new reality. During his recovery, he underwent numerous medical procedures for his high-level spinal cord injury and reliance on a ventilator. He also began learning about adaptive technologies that would allow him to continue his education and even return to marching band, proving his resilience and determination.

Home Renovations

While Drew and his family were navigating their new reality, the community rallied around them, stepping up to ensure he could return home. Significant renovations were required to meet the basic accessibility needs of their home—but the efforts went far beyond that. Mark Onslow, a member of Orchard Grove Community Church, where the family attended, volunteered to take on the design and construction. Many others in the community contributed their time, resources, and materials to make it happen. Drew’s father, LeDon, used this time to visit homes of others with disabilities to better understand Drew’s needs. He compiled his findings and shared them with Mark. As a high-level quadriplegic reliant on a ventilator, Drew required specialized accommodations. Emergency access to his room was critical, and the home needed features such as a ramp with a pitch no steeper than 1 inch per foot, a built-in overhead lift and tracking system (donated by a church member), and bathroom amenities like space heaters and heat lamps to help regulate his body temperature. These adjustments necessitated tearing down two rooms and a bathroom, building an entirely new deck along the side of the house, and ensuring a direct entrance to Drew’s room. Meanwhile, the hospital was eager to discharge Drew, even suggesting he stay in the living room while construction continued—a situation that could have jeopardized his health due to the ventilator. Mark firmly refused, vowing to complete the renovations in time. This was no small feat. LeDon recalls a particularly emotional moment during this time. After a long day at the hospital, he returned home at 2 a.m. to find spotlights illuminating the construction site. Mark, members of the Walled Lake Central Hockey Team, and other volunteers were hard at work. Overwhelmed by their dedication, LeDon broke down in tears. Incredibly, the renovations were completed in just 31 days. Drew was able to come home and rest in his newly constructed room. This was just one of many examples of the love, commitment, and determination that is the foundation of The Drew Crew.

Drew Comes
Home

After spending 3 months and 11 days in the hospital, Drew finally returned home to the unwavering support of a loving family and a driven community ready to embrace him.

Marching Band

Drew remained part of the Walled Lake Central Marching Band thanks to instructor Nick Pourcho, who designed a custom instrument and part for him. With support from parents and students, they created a mechanism to attach the instrument to Drew’s chair and helped him get on and off the field—proof that it truly takes a village!

AdobeStock_464427295.jpeg

Drew Attends the
University of Michigan

Drew’s determination and focus have always driven him to achieve his goals. As he prepared for his senior year of high school, he met with counselors and administrators to discuss his future. Adjusting to life with paralysis had impacted his junior year academically, and they suggested community college as a practical next step. But for Drew, the idea didn’t align with his lifelong dream of attending the University of Michigan. Resolute, he declared, “No. I want to take a full schedule and get back to my AP classes.” His counselor couldn’t have been more supportive. That year, Drew stepped into a leadership role in the marching band, attending every practice and competition—even in challenging conditions. He traveled to band camp up north and to Indianapolis for nationals in November, all while taking a full schedule of classes, including AP Calculus, and earning straight As. Determined to turn his dream into reality, Drew applied to the University of Michigan and was thrilled to receive his acceptance letter the following March.

Living on Campus

Along with his acceptance, Drew received a scholarship that made living on campus possible—something his family had never expected. By the second semester of his freshman year, he began staying on campus part-time with the help of his brother and a night nurse. Over the years, his family gradually built a full nursing team, enabling Drew to live on campus full-time and fully embrace his college experience.

467913776_10164088801869167_8414517681482610709_n.png

Van Campaign

Drew and his family made a strong push three years in a row to be selected as the winner of an accessible van competition. After receiving thousands of votes, they created a GoFundMe to raise the money themselves. With the driving momentum behind the competition, the love and support of their community, and all the selfless donations, they could put over $30,000 down on a brand-new van.

Drew Takes Over the Nonprofit

Following his graduation from the University of Michigan, Drew took over The Drew Crew with an ongoing mission to make it bigger than himself. To give everyone with paralysis the opportunities he’s been afforded. He’s doing so by finding creative ways to raise awareness, giving free mentorship and guidance to anyone who will listen, and helping those in need through the annual events and raffles. Drew has three pillars for fighting paralysis: hope, health, and happiness. An acronym that was coined early on after Drew’s accident was P.U.S.H. It stands for Pray Until Something Happens and is meant to be a double entendre. When adversity strikes, Drew, his family, and The Drew Crew are built to push forward literally while figuratively PUSHing forward. This gives a sense of hope, faith, and perseverance. The second mantra Drew lives by is Quality AND Quantity. With only so many hours in a day, many people with disabilities are forced to decide whether they want to focus on the quality of life and enjoy their precious time here or the quantity of life and do everything they can to keep their bodies healthy. The Drew Crew embodies both of these sentiments. Thirdly, he stresses the importance of Independence, NOT Independent. The loss of independent actions doesn’t have to result in a loss of independence. Paralysis forces you to think outside the box about how to get something done, but it doesn’t stop you from doing anything you set your mind to.

Largest Bottle Drive Ever!

Pending...

Drew's Recovery

Pending...

"I Will Walk Again!"

Pending...

Full Night Routine
05:16
Ab Belt
00:57
Arm Sleeves
00:59
Back, Butt, and Thighs
01:35
Calf Sleeves
01:00

Drew Clayborn

Drew Clayborn
Cough Assist Routine - C1-C2 QUADRIPLEGIC ON A VENT

Cough Assist Routine - C1-C2 QUADRIPLEGIC ON A VENT

05:07
Play Video
The Drew Crew Newsletter VLOG

The Drew Crew Newsletter VLOG

09:15
Play Video
FINAL Year Of The Drew Crew Super Bowl Squares

FINAL Year Of The Drew Crew Super Bowl Squares

01:38
Play Video

Recovery, Education, Mentorship, and Advocacy

Pending...

bottom of page