Chris Norton

Chris Norton is a former American Football defensive back who played Division III Football for the Luther College Norse. His career ended in 2010 when he became paralyzed while making a tackle during a kick off in a game against Simpson College. He was given a 3% chance of ever regaining movement below the neck but has continued to recover sensation and mobility throughout his body -- including his hands, legs, feet and torso. Today he lives in Florida with his fiancée where he manages his non-profit foundation and works full-time as a motivational speaker.

On October 16, 2010 Norton fractured his C3 and C4 vertebrae in the 3rd quarter of play during a football game against Central College in Decorah, Iowa. The fracture occurred on impact as his head collided with the ball carrier's knee during a kick-off return. As the pile cleared, Norton lay face down, motionless on the ground. He was transported off the field via ambulance and taken for emergency care to Winnishiek Medical Center where doctors stabilized him for an immediate airlift to neighboring Mayo Clinic.

Later that night at Rochester's Mayo Clinic, Norton underwent intensive surgery in which doctors used a piece of his hip bone to fuse together his C3, C4 and C5 vertebrae. Prior to the surgery doctors gave him a 3 percent chance of regaining any movement below his neck; while he was undergoing the procedure the medical staff delivered the prognosis to his family in the adjacent room. The surgery ended after three hours without any serious complications.

The morning of October 17, 2010 Norton awoke with his neck immobilized and a tube placed in his throat to supplement oxygen flow. Although he couldn't initially speak he was able to shrug his left shoulder ever so slightly -- defying the doctor's prognosis. He spent the next five days in the ICU before being transferred to the hospital's rehab wing where he received near-daily occupational and physical therapy sessions for the next four months.

Two weeks after the injury he regained enough movement in his hands to operate a power steering configuration for an electric wheel chair. Five weeks into his rehab he regained some movement and feeling throughout his upper body but still was unable to move anything below his waste. On Thanksgiving day 2010, surrounded by his therapist and his two sisters, Norton was able to wiggle his left big toe. In March of 2011 he moved into the Ronald McDonald house of Rochester which allowed him to continue rehabbing in Mayo Clinic's outpatient program for the next three months.

...
Wikipedia