Quinton Aaron, best known for his role in the 2009 sports drama The Blind Side, suffered a near-fatal stroke in January.
‘The Blind Side’ actor Quinton Aaron on life support
Actor Quinton Aaron, known for his role in The Blind Side, remains on life support after being hospitalized.
Quinton Aaron, who suffered a near-fatal stroke earlier this year, said the health scare opened his eyes in many ways.
Aaron, best known for playing NFL veteran Michael Oher in the 2009 sports drama The Blind Side, was hospitalized in January after suffering a fall at his home. The medical ordeal left the 41-year-old actor on life support.
In an interview with ABC News published on Monday, April 20, Aaron spoke for the first time and opened up about his life and recovery journey since his stroke, including some shocking facts about his marriage to wife Margarita DeLeon.
“The whole time we were together, she talked about being divorced for over 10 years,” Aaron told ABC News correspondent Steve Osunsami. “She even told the person we were marrying, ‘Yes, we have all the paperwork. We’ll email you the divorce decree.'”
However, during Aaron’s hospital stay, DeLeon said he was informed by his family that he was still married to another man and could not make medical decisions for him.
“That’s what ultimately led to the doctors removing her from my life,” Aaron said. “If I had the chance to do it all over again, I would have done better due diligence. I definitely would have done a lot more research.”
DeLeon disputed Aaron’s account in a separate interview with ABC News, saying he had no idea the divorce had not been finalized. The woman’s ex-spouse, who filed for divorce in February, also told ABC News that she had no knowledge of the couple’s remaining marital status.
Quinton Aaron opens up about recovery prospects after stroke
When it comes to recovery, Aaron doesn’t count himself.
The actor is undergoing physical therapy at an Atlanta hospital and is working on regaining his ability to walk.
“Doctors expected it could take months, a year, up to a year,” Aaron said in an interview with ABC News. “And I said, ‘I don’t insist on that deadline. I’m going to walk a lot faster than you think.’ You know, that’s how I believe…between me, my faith, and my relationship with God.”
Looking back, Aaron said the experience made him pay more attention to his body and physical health.
“I started paying attention to my body,” Aaron said. “Years later, I realized that it was very disrespectful to me, so I ignored it.”
Contributors: Taijuan Moorman and Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY
