Chris March Reflects on the Harrowing Accident and Ongoing Recovery That Changed His Life
The Project Runway alum recalled a fall in his home last June from which he's still recovering.
Project Runway and Mad Fashion alum Chris March is opening up in great detail about the 2017 accident that changed his life. Fans first learned about the incident back in the spring after Bravo stars like Andy Cohen and Sonja Morgan showed support for the designer by sharing with fans a Go Fund Me page set up to help Chris with his medical expenses. Now Chris is recalling this chapter in his life for the first time in a statement to Entertainment Weekly.
He confirmed that last June he was involved in a fall at home: “Dear Everyone, today is the one year anniversary of my accident, so I wanted to tell you what happened so you hear it from me... I fell and hit my head in my apartment. It’s that simple. I passed out and laid there for 4 days. I woke up and called 911 and somehow got to the hospital. In the hospital all sorts of medical problems happened: My blood sugar was over 500. My organs started failing, my right lung collapsed, and they had to give me a tracheotomy and put me on a ventilator."
He was then put into a medically induced coma and his medical issues continued, he shared: "My kidneys failed, my lung kept collapsing, my gall bladder was infected. I had a wound on my right leg. My body went septic... The coma lasted about 2 months. I came close to death many times—they called my family and they were told if they wanted to say goodbye to come right away. Somehow I miraculously woke up — I couldn’t talk and didn’t know where I was for a couple of months. I ended up being paralyzed in both legs from the knees down. My right hand and arm are paralyzed.”
One year later, the fashion designer offered an update on where things stand today as he is currently in a medical facility in Northern California. He has been doing physical therapy for several months, as well. He thanked everyone for their support.
“This has been a long and extremely difficult journey, physically and emotionally. And I have a long way to go, just like Dorothy,” he said in his statement to EW. “I could not have survived without my family and friends. I deeply appreciate everyone who has donated to the Go Fund Me page. I have good days and bad days and the worst days you can imagine, but I still have my brain, and for that miracle I am forever grateful. Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and encouragement.”
Chris appeared on Season 4 of Project Runway, in addition to his own Bravo series. Some of the notable stars he's worked with in the past include Madonna, Beyoncé, Lady Gaga, and Meryl Streep, including her 2010 Oscars dress. He even teamed up with Target on a costume and accessories line. Check out a vintage moment of the designer, below.
