R&B singer Jason Derulo is thanking his lucky stars and his girlfriend Jordin Sparks.
Three weeks after fracturing his neck while practicing some dance moves during a tour rehearsal, the 23-year-old tells People he's taking it one day at a time.
The singer landed on his head and snapped a vertebrae, when a move he performed "hundreds of times" went wrong. "It hurt like hell," he told the magazine, adding he keeps his spirits up with humor, and joked that his neck brace is becoming part of his body.
"It's been a really eye opening [experience]," he said. "It's given me a chance to look at everything and realize how blessed I truly am."
Derulo decided to use his first interview since the accident as an opportunity to officially confirm that he and former "American Idol" winner, Jordan Sparks are dating -- telling People that the accident has actually made them closer.
"We are together. She lives in Phoenix and she comes [to Miami] and takes care of me, brings me breakfast in bed and she'll go on walks with me," he said. "We've gotten closer because of my accident. It's awesome to have someone you can talk to and she's a wonderful person."
Derulo and Sparks were first spotted out together in September 2011, but wouldn't confirm their relationship.
The accident forced Derulo to cancel his world tour, which was supposed to start in February, and he is expected to wear a neck brace for several months.
After the incident, Derulo tweeted a photo of himself in his newly acquired brace, telling his Twitter followers, "I fractured my neck doing tumbling & acrobatics 4 tour! Always tryin 2 push boundaries 4 YOU! Like my new chain? ;)"
Two days after the accident, Jason wrote on his Facebook page:
My injury is called a "Hang Man's Break" because it is the same bone that is broken when someone is hung! I am so blessed to still be here! 95% of ppl with the same injury end up paralyzed or gone. Everything happens for a reason. Traumatic experiences can change you for the better. My outlook on life is so much clearer! Don't forget what's important. Life is short so do it today, tomorrow could be a day too late!"
We're glad Jason has Jordin to take care of him! Check out some more celebrity couples:
