Chris Norton’s Spinal Cord Injury Doesn’t Stop Him From Walking At Graduation, Proposing To Girlfriend

Chris Norton was told he had only a 3% chance of ever walking again after suffering a severe spinal cord injury in 2010 – but over Memorial Day weekend, after proposing to his girlfriend Emily Summers, he walked at his college graduation.

Chris Norton’s Spinal Cord Injury

Norton, 23, earned his diploma from Luther College last winter. Making good on a promise he made to himself over a year ago, he walked across the stage to pick up that diploma this past Sunday.

“It was like my gameday,” Norton told USA Today. “I was in the zone, focusing on what I needed to do and not worrying about anyone or anything else.

“I didn’t think it’d be so emotional. The energy in the room was really unbelievable, and it meant everything to have [Emily] there with me,” Norton added. “It was the best weekend of my life. She’s the most incredible person I’ve ever met, and to share it with her, the woman I’m in love with, it couldn’t be any better.”

Prior to his graduation, Norton brought Summers to their favorite restaurant, where he’d arranged to have John Legend‘s “All of Me” playing and candles spelling out “Will you marry me?”

“I was in shock, I looked into the room and thought, ‘Wow, this is so cool.’ It was just perfect in there. … It was really sweet,” said Summers, adding, “And he got a little choked up, which I thought was cute.”

Norton, who had injured his neck during a football game at Luther College during his freshman year, has no plans to let up on his rehabilitation. Right after walking at his graduation, he will return to his new home in Michigan to continue building up his endurance standing and walking. He also helped found the SCI CAN Foundation and co-wrote a memoir with his father that will be released later this summer.