Once Paralyzed Olympic Athlete Makes Miraculous and Full Recovery

Monique van der Vorst has faced her share of obstacles. First, she suffered a debilitating nerve damage injury during a routine ankle operation when she was 13 years old that left her paralyzed from the hip down. But she didn't let that stop her from living her life, and she went on to win a silver medal for handcycling in the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The same year she was struck with tragedy once again when she was hit by a vehicle while training in her wheelchair and sustained a spinal cord injury. Nevertheless, Monique is still not giving up.

If you think the story is bizarre now and that Monique has horrible luck, it takes an even more ironic twist–but with a suprisingly good ending. Last summer, as she trained for the London 2012 summer Paralympics she was once again hit. But it wasn't by a car this time, it was by a cyclist. However, instead of suffering from another injury, Monique's paralysis was seemingly reversed. Whatever happened during this accident made her realize that she could move her feet once again.

Doctors are still stunned by her recovery and aren't sure why this last accident helped her to move again. They suspect that the shock of the accident may have "jolted" her body back into action. Van der Vorst has undergone intense physical therapy and now participates in bicycle racing. She is 27 years old and plans on participating in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro. She is no longer disabled.