In October, 2010 Chris Norton was a freshman at Luther College and a member of their football team. It was unusual for players that young (18) to be on the starting line-up. One moment Chris was running and the next, he was on the ground, face down in the grass unable to move or feel any part of his body. He was air lifted to Mayo Clinic. Chris had broken his spine and was told, he would never walk again.
This is the beginning of 7 YARDS: THE CHRIS NORTON STORY. It is a journey that starts with surgery to place steel rods down Chris’s back and filled with 4800 hours of physical therapy.
It is a documentary about love, and a community including the football team who wouldn’t give up on him. Resiliency and perseverance are qualities that make Chris who he is…a young man who doesn’t stop trying and reaching for the impossible.
Chris, along with his fiancé, Emily, trained to “walk” 5 yards to receive his college diploma. The video of that moment went viral and had over 300 million views. His next goal was walking 7 yards side by side with Emily at their wedding. None of this happened overnight. Chris did not get married until 2018.
7 YARDS: THE CHRIS NORTON STORY is a well done film and an inspiration to everyone. Once you watch Chris, you realize how totally amazing he is. It shows how anyone’s “worst day can eventually become your best day.” All it takes is love and hope that we can overcome any obstacle in our own lives.
7 YARDS: THE CHRIS NORTON STORY is available to stream on Netflix.
