NEW SHARON – Ed Ferreira went from running 20 to 30 miles a week to learning how to walk again. He’s now trying to get the bend back in his knee.

The SAD 9 special education director was jogging on Industry Road in June, in training for a marathon, when he was hit by a car.

Ferreira had his pelvis and left knee surgically reconstructed.

The driver of the vehicle, Paul Hemond of Solon, was indicted in September on a charge of leaving the scene of an accident.

“There is still a lot of discomfort,” Ferreira said, “but it’s a lot better than it was.”

Ferreira, 48, went from wearing a full-leg cast to a sports brace. His leg had to be immobilized for two months.

Now he uses a cane at work and sometimes a ski pole outside to help him keep his balance.

When he’s at home, he said, he is able to maneuver around the house without either.

He does physical therapy and is working on building back muscle in his leg and increasing the range of motion in his knee.

Right now, his knee bends almost 90 percent of its former range, he said.

“I’m staying positive about it; wish it was better, but I’m optimistic about it. I’m determined to build up my leg and knee. I’ve got to stay focused and keep believing it.”

A positive attitude and the outpouring of support from his co-workers, community, medical personnel and family has helped his recovery, he said.

“The way I would describe it is I’ve been happy for whatever reason – I’m not quite sure why; it hasn’t been devastating psychologically,” he said.

Physically is another story.

“I was running 20 miles a week the day before it happened and then going back to learning how to walk again,” he said.

He has discomfort, he said, and occasionally the knee becomes painful, but he has discovered wonderful resources to help him get through.

“I’ve developed some nice strategies to cope,” he said.

His wife, Patty Murray, and three sons, Luke, 18; Devin, 16; and Keeshawn, 7, have been great throughout his recovery, he said.

His goal is to make as full a recovery as possible and to gain the function that he has temporarily lost.

Skiing, running and the other sports he enjoys participating in, he said, will have to wait until next year.

“I’m a spiritual person. I have a belief system. My faith hasn’t been shaken by this,” Ferreira said.