Nelson Thomas Credits “The Challenge” in Helping Him Accept Foot Amputation as He Mulls Future on TV (Exclusive)

The MTV star — who couldn't walk after a near-fatal car accident that resulted in him being charged with DWI — tells PEOPLE, "I'm used to people staring at me"

On March 5, Nelson Thomas will have his right foot amputated as the result of a near-fatal car accident in which he was charged with drinking while intoxicated. The Challenge star, 35, doesn’t quiet know how losing a foot will impact his ability to compete on the MTV reality show, but he’s left the decision in God’s hands.

“I can't give you that answer just yet, because it's not what I want anymore. It's what He wants for me,” Thomas tells PEOPLE.  “And if that opportunity presents itself, heck yeah! If The Challenge calls, I would definitely pick up that phone call. But I don't know what He has in store for me.”

Related: Nelson Thomas Says 'I Blame Myself for Everything' After Car Accident That Led to Foot Amputation (Exclusive)

Thomas turned to religion as a way to cope as he recovered from his accident, which took place last March. “Going through traumatic experience, you have to find some kind of outlet,” he says. “I started reading a lot more. I started doing Bible study Tuesdays and Wednesdays. And I don't try to push that on anybody. This is what works for me in my journey.”

He also started playing guitar thanks to The Challenge host TJ Lavin.

“The reason why I picked up a guitar was because TJ said, ‘Look, Nelson, I've been in your shoes before. I've been in and out of the hospital. I know the alone times, those dark times. You need to find something that you love to do and put your energy into that. And shut off that social media, shut off that negative stuff,’” Nelson reveals.

Before the accident, which resulted in six surgeries and left Thomas with three plates and 22 screws in his foot, “I was living my dream,” he says. “What sucked the most is that what I had to let go. What I had to deal with is that, ‘Nelson, you caused this to yourself. He blessed you with this opportunity, and you slammed the door in your own face.’ “

The Are You the One? alum has competed on nine seasons of The Challenge, as well as World Championship, but a final win still evades him. He hopes to go back on the show to get that W.

“I had a goal,” Thomas says. “The money wasn't a factor for me. Yes, $1,000,000, if I would've won that money … but I wasn't doing it for me. I was doing it for my family, my friends, to help them out. I love my career.”

Many of Thomas’s Challenge castmates have been his biggest supporters — alongside his mom — throughout his recovery, especially Cory Wharton.

“He's been there since Day 1,” Thomas gushes. “Me and Cory shed tears together on the phone. He came down here for my birthday. Cory's been one of my No. 1 supporters.”

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He likens Amanda Garcia to his “little sister” and says he spoke to Wes Bergmann and Chris “CT” Tamburello for advice about how to handle the backlash to the news of his DWI and a GoFundMe launched to help pay his medical bills.

“They actually called me because they saw all the articles that dropped,” Thomas says. “They knew what I was going through — I never dealt with that before.”

Challenge champ Jordan Wiseley has also served as a “big inspiration” for Thomas, he says. Wiseley, 33, has won three seasons of The Challenge without four fingers on his left hand, a result of being born with rare congenital hand condition symbrachydactyly. Wiseley’s brother is also an amputee.

“Me and Jordan talk all the time,” Thomas says. “Before this accident, me and Jordan were close. Me and Jordan, we're brothers. That's one of my best friends, as close as Cory, I might say. I definitely could relate to Jordan and what he's gone through, and how he's brought himself up even when he doubted himself.”

Thomas and Wiseley talked through stem cell therapy, one of the ways the Austin, Texas resident attempted to save his foot amid his recovery.

“He was happy, saying, ‘Nelson, let's do all the things we could do to save that foot. But if we can't, there is light at the end of the tunnel and I will be there with you,’” Thomas says.

Thomas recounts the advice Wiseley offered him: “One thing he did tell me, he said, ‘Nelson, don't give up. Don't let this stop you doing what you want to do in life. Because if there's a will, there's a way. I've been there. I've been doubted, having one hand. My brother's been doubted. We just have to learn to adapt. It might be hard sometimes, but you can do it.’”

Along with giving him a strong community to lean on, Thomas credits reality TV with helping him grow the resilience to face life as an amputee.

“I think God built me for this,” he says. “I'm used to people staring at me or looking at me: ‘Is that that guy from TV shows? Is that Scuba Nelly?’ I was used to that attention. But now people are looking at me because of this prosthetic.”

Thomas says he’s already been gaining attention for using an iWalk crutch to get around over the last few months, which he credits with allowing him to “feel a little bit normal again.”

“People are looking at me because of this prosthetic like, ‘Oh my God, I can't believe it,’” Thomas says. “I'm not ashamed of it. I've been on reality TV. And it sucks that this world works like this, but we live in a world we get judged on our appearance. Now I got to walk around with the confidence of having a prosthetic.”

Thomas feels like, with so much of his life having played out on TV, he owes it to his fans to be transparent about everything he’s been going through. “You've seen my journey since I was 24 years old on TV,” he says. “This is who I am. This is Nelson Thomas.”

Related: The Challenge Veteran Nelson Thomas Faces Potential Ankle Amputation After Serious Car Accident in March

The MTV star’s platform has allowed him to inspire other people going through similar situations.

“People started reaching out to me saying, ‘Nelson, you're such a big inspiration to me. I'm going through the same thing. I wanted to give up. I thought there's no ending to this,’” Thomas says. “I'm doing Cameos for kids to uplift them, to put a smile on their face. I was like, you know what, Nelson? I live my life to inspire others. And what makes me happy is when I see other people smiling. What about this is what He wants for you, to help other people?”

Thomas hopes to carry his confidence into his life as an amputee. “I'm going to own it,” he says. “I'm going to conquer the world and I'm not going to let nothing stop me. Watch me do amazing things.”

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