Ever since trance super-star Paul van Dyk’s tragic fall at his set at ASOP Utrec, witnessed by thousands of fans in attendance, the 44-year old has been continuously communicating with his fans, giving them continuous updates on his progress over social media.

In a recent interview with Billboard, Paul van Dyk spoke of the nature of his injuries and his trip back to health.

What have been the steps in the recovery process?

The first four or five weeks I was actually still in the wheelchair. Because of the brain injury, I had to learn to walk again. I’m still a bit slurry with speaking. I had to learn how to speak; I had to learn how to eat. I can do a lot of things that I was able to do before, but it’s still a long way until I’m at the point where I want to be — and the point that I came from.

If you have a neurological issue, no case is like the other. In one or two years, I may be back to 100%, or should I say, the new 100%. The doctors say I won’t be able to do as much as I used to do. It’s a long way; it’s a very hard way.

The first prognosis that was given to my mom and my fiancée the day after the accident was that we can be really happy if the organs that are necessary to be alive will keep functioning. Most likely I won’t know who I am, or what my surrounding is. I was slipping in and out of consciousness for three days. It was bad. There are three states of traumatic brain injury – mild, moderate, and severe – and I was in the severe part. It was very heavy, but I think lucky is not the right word. The fact that I’m still alive is a miracle. The doctor even said I’m a miracle wonder – my self-healing capacity is something he’s never seen before, that’s what he told me.

You left the hospital recently, what was it like to go home?

It was amazing. I hadn’t been home for three months. First I was a bit insecure – in the protected environment of a hospital, you know you can’t do this, you can’t do that. When you’re at home, you almost run into the fact that you overdo it.

What are your plans moving forward?

I had a lot of music ready and we were planning on releasing a new album this year. Because I lost all the time and the focus on it, that’s not going to happen. So we’re planning on this to be finished for 2017. I start touring – we’re doing EDC, which I’m really looking forward to. We’re doing the Ibiza season and festivals in Europe.

We’re doing substantially less to make sure that every single time I play I give the 100% that people are used to. The last thing I want is being on stage and not feeling able to do it. When I play, I will be there 100%

Do you feel nervous about returning to the stage?

Not really. From a health point of view, my body still hurts. But the thought of playing my music again in front of my audience keeps me excited and drives me. I can’t wait for it to happen.