FOX 21 News, KQDS-DT

DULUTH- "I just hope I can help one kid stay the hell away from that place," said Tyler Parks who used to use synthetic marijuana.

26-year-old Tyler Parks had dreams of customizing bikes and becoming a tattoo artist.

Last November, his life was changed forever.

"I was doing that crap from Last Place on Earth," said Parks. "I suppose all bath salts and synthetic marijuana that they got."

Nearly a year ago, he started buying and using synthetics every day.

"I guess I thought it was relaxing," said Parks.

It was also something he could legally use while on probation.

"I used to smoke a lot of real marijuana that's what kinda drew me down to it cause they didn't have ua's (urine analysis) that would pick it up," said Parks.

One day after complaining of a headache, he had a stroke and went into a coma that lasted three eeks.

"I remember sitting at a friend's house," said Parks. "Kinda just woke up in the hospital."

"I think I was more angry than anything else when the Dr.'s told me what caused this, I had a lot of anger," said Parks mother Patty Sundeen. "I prayed every day that he was gonna be ok."

Now he is living in a nursing home, paralyzed on his left side and has a damaged memory.

"We could tell him something right now but 15 minutes later he won't remember," said Sundeen.

FOX 21 asked Tyler what his life was like now.

"Sucks," he replied. "I never thought I'd see myself in a wheelchair."

Parks has a warning for anyone using synthetics or considering trying them.

"The only thing that stuff does is kill people," said Parks. "Stay out that shop because that guy is making millions off killing people."

Parks believes he is lucky to be alive and still hopes one day to become a tattoo artist and walk again.

Parks is going through drug rehab for his addiction. After the nursing home, Parks will potentially have to live in an assisted-living home for the rest of his life.