Paraplegic bride walks down the aisle on wedding day
Every bride dreams of walking down the aisle, but for paraplegic Tami Martin this seemingly simple task became the most important challenge of her life.
With the help of a walker, Tami, of Atlanta, paced 63 feet down the aisle to meet her now husband Rob Dietrich at the altar.
It was a remarkable achievement for Tami who was told by her doctors she would never walk again.
"I walked down the aisle publicly after being told I would never walk again," she told a local NBC news affiliate.
Tami lost the use of her legs 15 years ago after a car accident that crushed her spine and left her partially paralysed.
"I broke my back on October 25 1999," she said. "There wasn't any physical injury to my body but my spine was crushed between L1 and L2."
After the accident, Tami was determined to get back on her feet.
She began physical therapy but she broke her leg. She also gained a lot of weight due to a lack of physical activity.
With the help of surgical procedure and her abundance of grit and determination, Tami shed an astonishing 87kg (192 pounds) and set her sights firmly on the altar.
Having completed one challenge, Tami is now focused on the next.
She hopes to take a second set of steps unaided.
"Now my goal is to walk again on my own," she said.
Morning news break –January 6
