The Blind Side star Quinton Aaron recovering after spinal stroke, family says

The Blind Side star Quinton Aaron, 41, suffered a spinal stroke and is “alert, aware and recovering,” his family said in a statement to PEOPLE on Thursday, Jan. 29. TMZ was first to report the news. In the statement the family expressed gratitude for the “overwhelming love, support and prayers,” and asked the public to respect their decisions.

They said they will keep everyone posted regarding Quinton’s health “as we see fit” and warned that individuals who are not blood relatives who speak about his condition without consent “will be legal repercussions.” According to the Cleveland Clinic, spinal strokes occur when something, such as blood clots or hemorrhages, stops blood flow in a person’s spinal cord.

The condition is very rare—less than 1% of all strokes—and “can still be fatal or cause permanent disabilities,” the clinic said. A GoFundMe fundraiser set up to help with his medical expenses was confirmed authentic to PEOPLE by a GoFundMe representative, the family said. The recent hospitalization follows a February 2025 stay when, TMZ reported, Aaron was coughing up blood and had a fever; medics at that time believed he had Type A flu and pneumonia.

TMZ also reported he suffered a severe upper respiratory infection in 2019. Following his February hospitalization, he later posted in October that he had lost 200 lbs, and in February 2022 he told TMZ he had dropped 100 lbs.

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