Man Stands For First Time In Three Years After Doctors Told Him He Would Never Walk Again

Sep 16, 2020

On September 7th, a young man named Rob Paylor stood up from his chair. That may not sound like a huge accomplishment. After all, think about all the times people do that over the course of a day. For Rob, however, this feat was nothing short of a miracle.

Growing up, we are always told that we can do anything if we put our minds to it. We are also told that hard work and perseverance pay off in the end. There are certain times in life when it can be difficult to remember these things. It's also a great inspiration to hear when someone has become the embodiment of those sayings.

In 2017, Rob Paylor was the definition of strength and athleticism. He was strong and fast enough to play rugby at a high level in college. Since college athletics are on a completely different level, one can probably imagine that Rob had a physical prowess that went beyond the average person. What happened next can only be described as a cruel twist of fate.

During the Collegiate Rugby National Championship, Rob suffered a broken neck. This serious injury left him paralyzed. CBS SF reported that while Rob's injuries didn't take his life, doctors told him that he would be unable to walk. He was also told that he wouldn't be able to use his hands.

For anyone, this news would be lifechanging and devastating. As an athlete, one can only imagine how difficult it was for Rob to hear the experts tell him that he would no longer be the same physical presence he was ever again.

Every journey starts with the first step. Although Rob had heard the doctors tell him that he would not walk again or use his hands, he was unable to accept that as his new reality. He made it his goal that he would not let the diagnosis define him. Rob was going to use his legs again and do anything he needed to do to make it happen.

While Rob was determined to prove his doctors wrong, it was going to require a lot of work to make it happen. If this miracle were to occur, it was going to take an iron will and an unmatched work ethic. This undertaking would test his faith in himself, despite all the obstacles he had stacked up against him.

Have you ever vowed to get in shape as a New Year's Eve resolution? Did you ever wind up quitting because it got too hard to motivate yourself into going to the gym? You are not alone. Many of us end up quitting exercise routines because they become too difficult. We are also a country that thrives on instant gratification. When the toned muscles and flat abs don't happen after a couple of weeks, many people start to lose their will to continue working.

In the case of Rob Paylor, his exercises had no guarantees of ever working. His doctors had told him what he was trying to do was impossible.

Every time he worked to stand up from his chair and failed, he never had any guaranteed that trying again would lead to any different results. Despite these long odds, Rob continued to push on. On September 7th, after 1,220 tries to stand up from his chair, Rob finally succeeded.

As you watch the video, you can see all the effort Rob puts into an activity that many of us take for granted. You can just imagine the will and determination of a man who was told there was no chance he would stand again and vowed to prove the naysayers wrong.

The video is a great reminder of the strength that we can call upon when we want something bad enough.

Did Rob Paylor's story inspire you? Show this video to someone you know who needs to rally their strength to face some long odds and let us know all about someone who has inspired you with their determination.