This paralysed woman taught herself to walk again for her wedding

Her story is inspiring.

For some people, a wedding day is one of the most important days of their lives, but this bride's day will always have a huge significance because of what she achieved. Jaquie Goncher was involved in a swimming accident in 2008 which left her paralysed from the waist down. She told BuzzFeed:

 “I sustained a spinal cord injury from my C5 vertebrae being completely shattered. I also fractured C1 and C2. After my surgery, the surgeon told my mother and I that I would never walk again.”

  She decided a year before her wedding that she would walk down the aisle on her big day. Jaquie began intense physical therapy, and tough workouts at the gym. She did planks, lifted weights, used various abdominal machines, stood on a bosu ball, and used most of the leg machines. After a year of gruelling training Jaquie walked down the aisle during her wedding alongside her parents.   Although her husband-to-be knew that she would walk on their wedding day, the guests had no idea, which of course resulted in a highly shocked and emotional audience.

“Walking down the aisle felt like a dream. I felt accomplished and just so grateful and thankful,” she said, adding: “I honestly didn’t see Andy because I was too nervous and excited so I stared at the ground almost the entire time. Whoops.”

The beautiful bride not only walked to her groom on the altar, but stood for the entire ceremony.     She walked and stood for her entire day and even danced her first dance with her new husband.  

“I wanted to enjoy my wedding without the wheelchair,” she said. “Walking down the aisle was awesome but actually standing and dancing for my entire wedding is what really mattered to me.” She said.

All images via lovestoriesbyus.com.