The love story of a couple whose lives were almost destroyed by a horrific accident captured the internet back in June, and now, it has been revealed that they are still going strong.
Back in 2022, Cody Bryant and Haley Woloshen met in Hawaii and they instantly bonded after discovering that they lived only a mile apart back in Los Angeles.
The two spent several weeks together before Bryant suddenly stopped responding to Woloshen’s messages, which led her to believe that she had been ‘ghosted’ by him.
However, the reality couldn’t be more different – as Bryant had actually been hit by a car while riding a moped in Ibiza and had suffered significant injuries that left him in a coma.
Woloshen only made the discovery after finding a GoFundMe page for Bryant that was made by his friends and family detailing the accident, which had left him with a brain injury and a fractured femur.
After months of grueling rehab, the pair reconnected. But due to Bryant’s traumatic brain injury, he was unable recollect their time together.
Woloshen started helping him out ‘platonically’ at first, but it later turned into something more.
They spoke about their journey online earlier this year and it went viral – and now, the couple are still happily in love and even traveling the world together.
The love story of a couple whose lives were almost destroyed by a horrific accident captured the internet back in June, and now, it has been revealed that they are still going strong
Back in 2022, Cody Bryant and Haley Woloshen met in Hawaii and they instantly bonded after discovering that they lived only a mile apart back in Los Angeles
When Bryant suddenly stopped responding to Woloshen’s messages, she believed that she had been ‘ghosted’ by him. But in reality, he was in a coma
‘Neither of us expected it, but feelings started to build. I joke that she won me over a second time,’ Bryant previously wrote in an Instagram post detailing their love story.
He was eventually cleared to return to the Hermosa Beach home that he shared with his three roommates, undergoing physical, occupational, and speech therapy all the while.
The accident had left him with hemiplegia, or partial paralysis, leading doctors to fear that he would never walk again.
However, Bryant was determined to beat the odds – and he has.
Now, the couple, who have been together for over one year, have a great update to share, as Bryant revealed in November that they had gone to Europe together for two weeks.
‘I’ve read that traveling is good for your brain, and I’ve definitely seen it in action after my brain injury,’ Bryant shared in a video on Instagram, which was accompanied by adorable clips of the two of them enjoying their adventures together.
Bryant explained that this was the first long trip abroad that he had taken since his injury.
Before the accident, Bryant wrote that he ‘lived for travel,’ but now, he said it’s taken on a whole new meaning for him.
They spoke about their journey online earlier this year and it went viral – and now, the couple are still happily in love and even traveling the world together
Bryant revealed in November that they had gone to Europe together for two weeks, as he shared adorable clips of the two of them enjoying their adventures together
‘There are many things about traveling that are difficult, navigating unfamiliar places, communicating with people who don’t speak English, not having a consistent routine, just to name a few,’ he admitted.
‘While this can be difficult, and pretty exhausting, I actually find it helping me a lot.
‘Forcing my brain to work through these situations and problem-solve in the way it did before has been really beneficial.’
He explained that these situations can be big or small, like figuring out how to navigate public transportation or even trying to get their rental car out of loose sand when it got stuck.
However, these are all things that Bryant has found exciting.
‘I love feeling my brain get stronger as I’m doing one of my favorite things, seeing new places and experiencing the world,’ he said in the clip.
In early July, Bryant also penned an update on his GoFundMe page about the progress he had been making.
He shared that since getting the brain injury, he believed some aspects of his personality had changed.
Bryant explained that this was the first long trip abroad that he had taken since his injury
‘My most obvious changes include being more introverted, empathetic, having different interests, being more susceptible to stress, lacking social stamina and mental bandwidth,’ Bryant wrote.
‘I think my humor was always childlike but now I’m also reactive, shortsighted and emotional,’ he continued.
‘For a while, I dedicated a lot of energy to being who I think Cody once was. Maintaining this façade was exhausting.
‘I even watched old videos of myself and re-read text convos and social media posts. It felt like fiction but I could faintly recall emotions.
‘I’d get strangely nostalgic and sad knowing I’ll never feel that exact feeling again. Being aware of this really messed with my mind. I feel like the failed AI clone in Black Mirror’s “Be Right Back” episode on Netflix.’
Bryant said that early in his journey, doctors had told his family to ‘grieve the old him,’ which he found difficult.
‘How do you grieve someone who’s still alive? I didn’t even comprehend I had a brain injury and I thought everyone was being dramatic by putting me in rehab for a broken leg,’ he added.
‘Rachel couldn’t figure out why her problem-solving brother wasn’t motivated to recover. As you can see, brain injuries are complex.’
‘Fortunately, one thing hardwired into me is my mindset. I’ve been humbled by so many new deficits, but I still believe I can overcome anything.
‘So I’m seizing this opportunity to be a new person. With my greater appreciation for life and stronger empathy, I’m building good habits and striving to help people.’
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