Seven years after a college football accident paralyzed Chris Norton, he walked his bride, Emily Summers, down the aisle to the applause and admiration of their 200 guests. Nothing could keep Chris and Emily from walking down the aisle together at their wedding this last April 21 — their love and determination is that strong!
When Tragedy Struck Chris Norton
On October 26, 2010, Chris fractured his C3 and C4 vertebrae during a Luther College football game in Decorah, Iowa. The injury occurred as Chris’ head impacted the ball carrier’s knee, leaving Chris face down, motionless on the ground.
In his book (co-written with his father, Terry) The Power of Faith When Tragedy Strikes: A Father-Son Memoir, Chris remembers that right after the injury “silence permeated the space around us. The only people talking were trainers or coaches, and beyond that, I could have heard a penny drop in the stadium. Ten minutes went by as questions continued. ‘Can you feel us grabbing your foot? Can you feel this on your leg? Do you feel this prick on your arm?’ I kept saying, ‘No, no, no, no!’ ”
Terry writes: “The part I remember most, the part that burned like a knife in my gut, was that as they stabilized him, he didn’t move at all. Not one part of his body had moved.”
They took Chris by ambulance to a local hospital and then the nearby Mayo Clinic. Chris had a 3 percent chance of ever moving anything below his neck again.
I had two choices. Was I going to spend the rest of my life feeling sorry for myself? Or was I going to make a stand? I know one thing. When they tell you that you have a 3% chance of moving anything below your neck again, forget the 97. Focus on the 3. Yes, my life changed forever; but through my experience, I realized that how my life would change was up to me. I had …THE POWER TO STAND.
Chris proved everyone wrong as he worked to regain his mobility — first walking across the stage at his college graduation. Now he travels full time as a motivational speaker to share this message:
I’M CHRIS NORTON, AND I GOT KNOCKED DOWN. HARD.
But our lives aren’t shaped by circumstance. They’re shaped by us. Perseverance isn’t about the physical act of standing: it’s about attitude, and the ability to shape yourself in the face of adversity.
While training for his wedding walk, Fotolanthropy, a non-profit organization that celebrates stories of hope of those who have defied odds, started to work on a documentary about Norton, Summers, and their ambitious goal to make it down the aisle. Watch the trailer below.
Chris and Emily Norton’s Love Story
Chris and Emily met through an online dating site in 2013. Chris told People magazine: “I was waiting for that girl who made me feel alive and someone I wanted to spend the rest of my life with and then here comes Emily. I knew she was the one.”
Chris treasures that Emily didn’t even seem to notice the wheelchair. Norton told People magazine: “What I love about Emily is that she has the biggest heart in the world. She has so much compassion and empathy.”
Together, the couple is raising five foster children — all under the age of 8. This is Emily’s lifelong dream. In this Instagram post, Emily explains that this is her favorite photo of the night — a special dance she had with a former foster child that ended in sweet tears.
Chris Norton has once again proven that The Power to Stand is available to all of us. His message has been tested and proven in his own life. Chris says, “My story is about more than just me. It’s about all of us. We all have the power to push past life’s challenges. And when we make a stand, we’ll change the world!”
The Chris Norton Foundation is a nonprofit that exists to help people with spinal cord and neuromuscular disabilities. You can donate to the foundation here. You can read People’s exclusive feature on Norton and Summer’s wedding day here, and watch People’s nearly 20-minute feature video here.
