Paralyzed former football player surprises family by walking at his college graduation

Corey Borner promised his friends and family a surprise at his college graduation, and he delivered.

The 28-year-old Texan was a high school football player, and in 2009, during a routine tackle, he suffered a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed. Since then, Borner has used a wheelchair. He decided to "make the best of it," he told WFAA, and became a motivational speaker, sharing his story with students and encouraging them to face their challenges head on. "You just got to be thankful because it's a blessing to be alive and still be here," he said.

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Catherine Garcia, The Week US

Catherine Garcia has worked as a senior writer at The Week since 2014. Her writing and reporting have appeared in Entertainment Weekly, The New York Times, Wirecutter, NBC News and "The Book of Jezebel," among others. She's a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.