Indycar's Paralyzed Sam Schmidt Walks and Dances at Daughter's Wedding for the 1st Time since 2000
Sam Schmidt last walked in 2000 and, following a terrible accident, has been confirmed to a wheelchair until he recently made his daughter's dreams come true on her wedding day.
A horrific car crash in 2000 left Sam Schmidt paralyzed from his neck down, but thanks to technology from Arrow Electronics, Schmidt took his first step in two decades, and it was on a memorable day.
The IndyCar team owner left the crowd at his daughter's wedding emotional as he took his first walk in 21 years and danced with his daughter to the delight of their guests.
Photo of a bride holding a flower bouquet | Photo: Pexels
An exoskeleton was used to help stabilize Schmidt's legs, allowing him to stand and move forward with a little aid from someone behind him. Speaking to Today, Schmidt confessed that he was short of words.
It has been 21 years since the IndyCar team owner last had a full-body hug, and the experience was refreshing and memorable for car racing enthusiasts. He revealed that he had almost forgotten the view, describing the day as unbelievable.
Schmidt's daughter Savannah Boehrer had waited for the moment where she would share a dance floor with her father since she was two years old, and finally seeing the day was a lot for her to take in.
The moment Boehrer spotted her father upon his feet, with her hands on her mouth in disbelief, she started sobbing. The wedding hall was filled with claps and cheers from excited guests.
His C3 and C4 vertebrae were torn apart he was unable to breathe for almost four minutes.
Schmidt recently visited Tim Baughman, one of the paramedics who worked on the safety crew that responded to the scene of his horrific crash in Orlando 21 years ago.
Baughman confessed that it was inspiring to see Schmidt on his feet. Schmidt has dedicated his life post the tragic 2001 accident to finding a cure for paralysis and has been involved in a series of research.
A year after his crash, he founded Conquer Paralysis Now foundation. In 2016, his efforts were recognized as he became the first person in the country to receive a license to drive a semi-autonomous vehicle after the State of Nevada gave him the license.
His paralyzed state did not stop Schmidt from his passion for racing. He reportedly drove a car by using a tube in his mouth to control speed and braking. In addition, his censored sunglasses were used to control the car's movement with his eye movement.
In 2001, Schmidt's world came crashing down, and he was left fighting for his life following the car crash. His C3 and C4 vertebrae were torn apart he was unable to breathe for almost four minutes.
Doctors had informed his wife Sheila to search for nursing home because the then 35-year-old Schmidt was not expected to live up to 40 or live without a ventilator. Instead, the now 56-year-old has turned his life around and even became a top IndyCar owner.
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