Iowanâs inspiring life story makes its film debut
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Updated: 6:37 PM CST Feb 22, 2021
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Updated: 6:37 PM CST Feb 22, 2021
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ERIC: IF EVER THERE WAS A MOMENT EXEMPLIFYING THAT GUY IN THE WHEELCHAIR, ITâS THIS CHRIS NORTON, DETERMINED TO MAKE HIS DAUGHTER LAUGH BY TOWING HER WITH HIS CHAIR THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOOD. INSTEAD OF DREADING QUARANTINE, CHRIS EMBRACED IT WITH HIS STILL-GROWING FAMILY. >> HOW MANY GIRLS AND HOW MANY BOYS? >> OK, WE HAVE 5 GIRLS AND 2 BOYS. ERIC: REMEMBER DOCTORS GAVE CHRIS A 3% CHANCE TO MOVE. NOW, JUST 3 YEARS AFTER THE IOWA NATIVE DEFIED THOSE ODDS AND WALKED HIS BRIDE DOWN THE AISLE, THEY HAVE 7 ADOPTED AND FOSTERED KIDS. >> ITS CONTROLLED CHAOS, IS WHAT IT IS. ERIC: A PANDEMICâS NOT IDEAL FOR A GUY WHOâS BUILT HIS BRAND ON DELIVERING MOTIVATIONAL MESSAGES TO BIG CROWDS. BUT THAT ATTITUDE IS WHATâS GOTTEN HIM THROUGH. >> THEREâS NO BETTER TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE UNCERTAINTY AND THE UNKNOWN. ITâS JUST ONE SMALL STEP AT A TIME TO GET THROUGH IT. JUST IN A MATTER OF SECONDS I WENT FROM INDEPENDENT TO DEPENDENT. ERIC THE FORMER ATHLETE FROM : IOWA IS UNVEILING HIS FULL STORY IN A FEATURE FILM. >> I JUST STARTED TO CRY, AND THATâS WHEN THEY PUT ME TO SLEEP. ERIC: 7 YARDS, THE CHRIS NORTON STORY, RECREATES THE KICKOFF THAT CHANGED HIS LIFE. AND CHRIS IS THE ONE IN THE HELMET. >> THE LAST TIME I WAS IN FOOTBALL GEAR WAS WHEN I WAS INJURED. ERIC HE ADMITS FILMING IN THE : AIR AMBULANCE AND IN THE SURGERY ROOM BROUGHT EVERYTHING BACK. >> IT WAS A SURREAL, EERIE FEELING, A TWILIGHT ZONE KIND OF MOMENT. LIKE, I WAS HERE ONCE BEFORE. >> HE HAD NOT MOVED AT ALL. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO MOVEMENT, WHICH IS UNUSUAL WHEN SOMEONE IS HURT. >> CHRIS POSSESSES A FORTITUDE THAT MOST AND WOMEN THAT WALKED THIS EARTH CAN ONLY DREAM. ERIC: THE MOVIE OPENING ON AMAZON PRIME AND APPLE TV SPOTLIGHTS HIS GRADUATION WALK 300 MILLION PEOPLE HAVE WATCHED, TO THE 7 YARDS HE WALKED WITH HIS BRIDE DOWN THE AISLE AND ALL THE PEOPLE WHO MADE HIS STORY POSSIBLE. >> HOW BEING A FRIEND, JUST SHOWING UP AND DOING WHATEVER WE CAN TO ENCOURAGE A FRIEND, HOW MEANINGFUL THAT IS AND HOW MUCH THAT TRANSFORMED MY LIFE. ERIC: BECAUSE THE ISOLATION OF A PANDEMIC IN THE CONFINES OF A CHAIR WOULDâVE BROKEN A LOT OF PEOPLE. BUT NOT THE GUY USING HIS GIFTS TO CREATE JOY. >> PEOPLE NEED ENCOURAGEMENT. THEY NEED SOMETHING TO HOLD ONTO. ITâS WO