In 2009, Joel Jackson got into a car with a drunk driver. The driver crashed into a telephone pole and at just 19 years old, Joel would become a medical miracle.
No one expected Joel to survive the gruesome spine injury doctors refer to as "internal decapitation." He would be in a coma for 87 days.
Like Martin Pistorius, Joel woke up. He survived and when his old high school sweet heart, Lauren began to visit him suddenly things were different. Although he was in love, with the doctors' low expectations he was starting to give up hope that he would be able to live a happy life.
"He believed there was nothing else that could be done for him," Lauren said. But the pair persevered, they were married in 2013.
Joel was in his wheelchair and instead of a traditional wedding dance, Lauren sat in his lap. Doctors would never believe, that 2 years after their wedding day, so much would be different..
See their incredible story below!
h/t: NBC News/The Voyage Less Travelled
In 2009, Joel Jackson survived a gruesome car accident.
“People don’t live through C1 injuries,” said Bob McIver, of Brooks Rehabilitation’s Neuro Recovery Center. “Kids sometimes do. At his age, it’s fatal in matter of seconds.”
Joel and Lauren met when they were 14. They dated in high school but were not together at the time of the incident.
It was when Lauren began visiting him in the hospital that they fell in love all over again.
"As I understand it, the doctors just said, 'This is as good as his life is ever going to be. Make him comfortable,'" Lauren said.
Joel describes the time he was in the hospital as "long and lonely days."
Although Joel could not walk or talk, he got equipment that allowed him to use a computer and send text messages.
The spark between the pair was rekindled. Joel and Lauren married in 2013.
The bride and groom couldn't have a traditional first dance but they certainly made do. Their song, Edward McCain's "I'll Be," played. Lauren sat on his lap knowing that someday things might be different.
"I told him, 'When you can talk, I want to renew our vows. And when you can walk, I want you to dance with me,' " Lauren said.
That was 2 years ago. Lauren gave up her job to become Joel's caretaker. Frustrated with their doctors, they moved to Florida and got a second opinion.
"As someone who'd never had any physical therapy, we don't have any idea of what his potential is, what he is hiding," said neurologist Bob McIver.
He recommended that Joel try a ZeroG device. It's a suspension mechanism that allows Joel to stand.
For the first time in 6 years, and 2 years after his wedding, Joel danced with his wife. The song "I'll Be," played and like Lauren always knew, when he could walk, she would dance with him.
"Everyone applauded at the end," McIver said. "There were lots of tear-filled eyes."
See the tear-jerking moment one couple beat the odds below.
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