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'The Accident Brought Me To Her': Paralyzed Groom Walks Bride Down The Aisle

April 26, 2018

After a football accident in 2010 left him paralyzed from the neck down, Chris Norton was told there was only a 3 percent chance he would ever walk again – but last weekend, he walked his beautiful bride down the aisle.

Credit: Fotolanthropy / 7 Yards

Norton, 26, has been confined to a wheelchair for the past 7 years. He played football for Luther College Norse but his career ended in 2010 when he suffered a spinal chord injury while making a tackle during a game against Central College.

He was told that he had fractured his C3-C4 vertebrae and had a three percent chance of ever moving anything below his neck ever again.

"I wasn't going to accept that," he told PEOPLE. "I was going to be part of that three percent."

When Norton got back to school, he wondered if he'd ever find a woman who would want to spend her life with him.

He decided to give online dating a try and that's when he met Emily Summers. The connection was so strong that she didn't even notice his wheelchair.

"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," he told PEOPLE. "The accident brought me to her and that is the biggest blessing."

Credit: Fotolanthropy / 7 Yards

Chris and Emily exchanged wedding vows on April 21, in Jupiter, Florida.

Together, the newlyweds slowly walked down the aisle — a goal they had been working towards for years.

Credit: Fotolanthropy / 7 Yards

Norton, who works full time as motivational speaker, says he wants to "give people hope and inspiration that they can overcome anything they're going through."

"There have been a lot of moments where we've struggled. But anything is possible if we don't give up. We want to be an example that life can be remarkable. I'm so blessed and happy with where I am."

Watch the trailer for "7 Yards: The Chris Norton Story" below.