A 53-year-old Calgary man, who previously spent 15 years playing professional soccer in his native Poland, continues to undergo intensive rehabilitation following a summer fall that nearly claimed his life.

On July 18, Janusz Dobrowolski was cleaning the windows of his daughter’s home when he fell from a ladder and crashed to the ground below. No one was at home at the time of the fall and a Good Samarian discovered the unconscious 53-year-old who was bleeding profusely from the head, an injury that likely prevented potentially fatal swelling.

Dobrowolski was transported to the Foothills Hospital where doctors told his wife he would likely die within hours. According to medical staff, Dobrowolski was revived four times.

The injured man remained in a coma for three weeks. “One day I just woke up and asked myself ‘Where am I? Oh in the hospital. What happened?’” recalled Dobrowolski.

The former professional soccer player, who played in the Professional Prime League for Stal Miec and Slask Wroclaw and represented Poland in the Junior Euro Cup and Junior World Cup, had his twelfth thoracic vertebra damaged in the fall, leaving him paralyzed from the waist down.

“The surgery was very, very dangerous but, finally, was successful,” explained Dobrowolski. “They put together my bone. Put in the metal cover with the pins.”

“It looks terrible to me, but it works.”

Doctors told Dobrowolski that, given his age, there was only a 5 per cent chance he would walk again. For the time being, the man who recently coached and played recreational soccer in Calgary is confined to a wheelchair.

"I'm paralyzed but I'm very lucky because I'm alive," said Dobrowolski. "Thank you doctors from the Foothills Hospital. They kept me alive."

Dorota Dobrowolski, Janusz’ wife, says the ordeal has been a nightmare.

“It’s hard, really hard, but I’m a strong woman and a fighter,” said Dorota. “I believe miracles happen. I believe he’s going to walk.”

Dobrowolski has been in hospital since the fall but has been granted weekend passes on several occasions including Saturday night’s fundraiser with members of Calgary’s soccer community.

The Dobrowolskis are without disability insurance and his rehabilitation treatment sessions are expected to cost more than $4,000 a month.

The first session with the physical therapist brought renewed optimism. When the therapist applied an oil treatment below Dobrowolski’s knee, visible movement occurred within the muscles of the injured man’s foot.

Dobrowolski says the therapist told him he would probably regain the ability to walk within the year because he’s a fighter and an athlete.

One of Dobrowolski’s daughter has created a GoFundMe page to help raise funds for her parents to help cover the cost of rehabilitation sessions and renovations to the family’s home to facilitate Dobrowolski’s return.

With files from CTV's Ina Sidhu