Chris Norton married Emily Summers, the love of his life, on April 21 in a ceremony in Jupiter, Florida. The moment was especially powerful for Chris, who wondered if he would ever get married after he was injured in a football accident.
“I can’t believe we did it,” said Chris, 26. “We wanted this so badly.”
After his accident back in 2010, Chris was told that there was only a three percent chance that he would ever move again. He overcame this when he managed to get out of his wheelchair to stand for his wedding to Emily.
Now, Chris is undertaking a different challenge with his wife: foster parenting!
It all started when Emily was in high school and she met a young girl named Whittley, who was having struggles in her personal life. Emily guided the girl through these difficult times, and in August of 2016, Whittley asked her if she would take her in.
Though Chris and Emily were only 23 and 22 respectively at the time, they did not hesitate to say yes.
“When we saw the transformation we made in her life we knew it was all worth it,” said Emily, who made Whittley a bridesmaid at her wedding.
The couple enjoyed fostering Whittley so much that they have since taken in five more foster children, all of whom are under the age of eight.
“We were at the point where we purchased a larger vehicle just to accept a larger placement of children,” Chris said.
Chris shows his foster children that he knows what it’s like to struggle and to have to overcome various life challenges.
“I have these conversations with them that my life is still great with a wheelchair and that things can happen to you but if you keep moving forward you can use it for the good,” he said. “It can make them stronger.”
Emily enjoys taking the children to school and making them healthy meals. The family recently took a day trip to Disney World, and on a daily basis they spend quality time together doing everything from painting to playing the backyard.
“Life is a roller coaster,” said Chris, “but we stick together and know anything is possible if we don’t give up.”
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