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Heartwarming moment groom, 26, who was left PARALYZED from the neck down while playing football, walks down the aisle with the help of his bride

Nearly eight years after Chris Norton was left paralyzed in a college football accident, he wed the woman of his dreams in a charming Southern ceremony where the pair were surrounded by tearful loved ones and friends.

In this People magazine photo, Chris Norton is seen being assisted down the aisle by his new bride, Emily Summers, at their wedding in Jupiter, Florida on April 21

The Day His Life Changed Forever

Chris, of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, 26, has been bound to a wheelchair since he tragically suffered a spinal cord injury back in October 2010 – when had been playing football his freshman year for Iowa’s Luther College in a game versus Central College.

During what was just the start of a life-long recovery process, Chris returned to school in August 2011. He later started his wildly successful charity, the Chris Norton Foundation, to help other people in his shoes who have suffered similar debilitating injuries.

Aside from the physical setbacks, Chris was left with emotional strain after the life-altering accident. He worried that he would experience trouble finding his soulmate, as he had hoped to settle down one day and start a family.

Chris, of Port Saint Lucie, Florida, has been bound to a wheelchair since he tragically suffered a spinal cord injury in October 2010. He was left paralyzed from the neck down

In It Together And Forever

In August 2013, he gave the scary world of online dating a shot. That’s where he eventually matched with Emily Summers, now 25, a Christian Iowa State University student, who was employed at a facility where she helped care for a.b.u.s.e.d youth.

Drawn to her compassion, beauty and hard work ethic, he saw that she didn’t even notice his wheelchair. And for 25-year-old Summers, the connection was just as immediate and strong.

The pair instantly clicked – and Emily helped him find a facility where he would regain some of his physical strength in order to walk down the aisle on graduation day.

Fast forward to three years later – and Emily was there to help walk her groom down the aisle at their wedding on April 21.

Chris is seen exercising while in his wheelchair. He was left paralyzed from a football incident his freshman year for Iowa’s Luther College in a game versus Central College

They took in the moment as every bride and groom does, but for them it was extra special because it’s something Norton thought would always just be a mere fantasy. For the past seven years, 26-year-old Norton has been confined to a wheelchair after a football accident left him paralyzed from the neck down.

As Summers leaned down, she wrapped her arms around her husband and used all of her strength to pick up him out of his wheelchair.

Emily Summers, Chris Norton and one of their foster children in Port St. Lucie, Florida

Loved ones were seen crying happy tears as they watched the pair exchange vows in awe and Emily help her hubby out of his wheelchair for their first kiss as husband and wife.

Tear-jerking footage from the ceremony shows Emily help hold Chris as they make their way back up the aisle following their ‘I dos’.

Source: people.com, dailymail.co.uk