TEENAGER Jordan Smith narrowly escaped death or paralysis after suffering a series of "mini strokes".
But The Crypt Grammar School pupil is still hoping to see his dream to be a professional rugby player come true.
He has received 'get well' messages from the England rugby squad and local sports heroes Jody Gooding, Marcel Garvey and Charlie Sharples, which are spurring him on to get better.
The 16-year-old began getting headaches and feeling sick a few weeks ago.
Doctors at Gloucestershire Royal Hospital sent the Gloucester Rugby fan to Frenchay where he was told his two uppermost vertebrae had collapsed, tearing an artery and causing a blood clot to form. This stopped oxygen getting to his brain, resulting in many of the cells to die.
Jordan said: "Doctors said most people are paralysed or even die from this so I'm very lucky to be alive.
"It was a big shock when they told me but I feel fine now, just achy and I do get headaches. That's mostly from worrying about what's going to happen.
"It could affect my long-term goal to be a rugby player."
The flanker was discharged from hospital last week and is now recovering at home in Cheltenham.
Doctors have said they will not operate to remove the clot but are giving him medication to thin his blood.
The keen athlete, who plays for Crypt and Old Pats, has also been told to give up rugby for at least six months and will miss a rugby tour to South Africa this summer.
He said: "I am finding it really difficult. But whatever impact caused the collapse, it would only take 50 per cent of that for it to reoccur so I have to be careful. The doctor said it would be better not to play rugby again, as the vertebra could slip again or the clot could move, but that's not an option. I have wanted to be a professional player since I was about 11."
He may also be unable to sit some of his GCSE exams this summer as doctors say he needs to avoid stress.
He said if he cannot play rugby he wants to become a coach.
