Paralyzed Bride Walks Down the Aisle: Gina's Story

Most of us can point to a time or an event in our lives that forever changed us.
Sometimes it happens later in life for Gina Springhower - it happened just as she was starting hers.
“I ran my own tumbling business, I was doing well in college, my life was perfect,” said Gina.
She was 21 and a junior at Wayne State. Gina had her sights set on great things - when a decision to get into a friend’s car would change everything “I just had that gut feeling something was wrong - something was going to happen,” said Gina.
The car she was riding in jumped the curb; hit a light pole and a cement-filled post before flipping several times. Gina rolled with the care before being tossed out onto the gravel.
“They say when I went through the window I went through butt first so I bent in half and that’s when my back broke,” said Gina.
The fact Gina survived without so much as a scrape on her head is nothing short of a miracle. The injuries she suffered from the waist down would prove to be her greatest challenge.
“I went from a 21-year-old independent, successful business owner and student - to a 21-year-old infant in seconds,” said Gina.
But as you are about to learn, roadblocks don’t exist in Gina’s world. “I’ve always been that kind of person that whatever life gives, you roll with it,” said Gina.
And so she did. With the help of her team from CHI Rehabilitation Center at Immanuel, Gina set out to rebuild her life one painstaking step at a time.
“I told my therapist I need to get back to being able to teach tumbling and they didn’t know what that was. Once they figure it out, they said okay this is what we need to do to get to that goal. They were on my same page the whole time. They never told me it wouldn’t happen - they never let me lose hope,” said Gina.
And she didn’t. Gina spent nine months in therapy before adjusting to her new normal. She finished college and went back to teaching tumbling. But there was still something missing - something she dared to dream about - love.
“I’ll never forget what she told me. It was a few years after the accident she says ‘Dad, do you think anybody will ever love me?’ I said they will sweet heart. We’re just filtering through a lot of things right now. Someone will find you - someone will love you for what you are,” said Gary Giaffoglione, Gina’s dad.
And then came John - the guy with the big smile who only noticed hers.
“She makes me feel like I’m six years old again, she brings out the little kid in me,” said John Springhower.
The two became one on Sept. 13, 2014. Friends and family had no idea the bride, who spent the last six years in a wheelchair, would walk down the aisle with the help of specially designed braces, the man who never left her side and her team at CHI Health.
“It all started right here at CHI Health - with all the work, all the practicing, all the therapists, all the positive reinforcing. They went the extra mile to help us out here. The true meaning of helping people is what we got here from day one,” said Gary.
Gina got that day every bride dreams of and more - the dress, the flowers, the walk with dad and all its struggles, and the groom - who sees past the wheel chair to the girl who lights up a room.
“Now I have somebody who loves me a whole bunch and I’m sure of it,” said Gina.

[@cindigordon8407]

Wow!!!!! My heart is just bursting for this BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL COUPLE!!!!! Her husband NEVER saw a handicap bride. He saw devotion, love, AND HIS FUTURE!!!! YOU GO GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@gregworner1907]

She was my son's tumbling teacher before the accident. Some school will have an amazing elementary school teacher.'

[@ivansanders8459]

What a lovely inspirational lady, and great family and support team!

[@lindajgaeta8935]

you deserve a miracle after all you've gone through, Gina! thank God for you and John finding each other! Blessings, and long and happy lives to you both!

[@lovemecom3832]

Beautiful and Inspiring. That’s we called it the power of love. Miracle can possibly even in the hardest moments of your life.Congratulations to both of you and I wish you all the best in marriage life.

[@rawsiebee1]

Wow, what an amazing testimony! I love "love" and what a beautiful story that she found true love!

[@patriciagurwitz509]

Now this is a gorgeous love story!!! Be happy, many blessings & congratulations to you both & families!

[@elzxhapo2411]

This made me tear up 😢 I’m a paraplegic so I know the struggle

[@stevesanders8343]

All the best to this awesome couple!

[@09roleplayer]

I see this video has 10 thumbs down. How can that be? I thought everybody was born with a heart - apparently not...:( I know that I have one, because my heart was breaking throughout the whole video. What an awesome couple! God Bless them!

[@sgtsnafubohica15]

That is suck a touching story. My husband met me after my accident and I walked to him as well. It's great to have someone who doesnt see your disability and sees the person and loves you no matter how much extra he has to do. She has been blessed by God to have an amazing life and a little tears had to flow so she could meet her number 1.

[@christopherojukwu8579]

I'm crying cuz she is so awesome and her husband has so much love for her.. man they don't make em like him anymore. everybody is so superficial nowadays

[@benjaminsorenson]

Christopher Ojukwu they don't? There is 8+ billion in the world and thousands born everyday.

[@paulasmith2326]

that is a good story most people would not be that brave to say anything but it's nice that you would share that and give ones that knew you both a chance and say that they could do it that is special for sure

[@08danalorelie01]

I hope that she's ok now. I wish her well!

[@elizabethchopyk6623]

Wow to be so Blessed.😇 May God walk with you through life and to the Both of you many Blessings on your journey together.

[@mamag4092]

So proud of you, can’t image your parents?! ❤️

[@himom3013]

#NOW THAT MY FRIENDS ! #IS WHAT AN ANGEL LOOKS LIKE !

[@tammiewilson9175]

This story is so sweet.

[@losebellyfatfast1475]

awesome video. Fantastic work. learnt a lot from this clip.

[@charlespadilla1027]

What a beautiful story.

[@youtub6521]

What a special couple

[@ladyspott4938]

Beautiful truth happy for you both

[@cherilee373]

Puts one's problems in perspective.

[@katherinestahl3151]

I can feel that. dream. I am so happy for them

[@emilybeth6061]

What an amazing women!! A true inspiration

[@jameslefever5978]

People don't deserve this . I'm glad your better and that your healthy today. And that your ok

[@calinegulgultofor3309]

so happy for them

[@avionserrao7943]

Oh wow I feel so happy for both of them. As love took over her bad times. I just hope no problem comes in their ways for starting a family. Seeing such videos makes me believe that if life could give her good life partner then my life too will do the same thing with me

[@pichcha3634]

True love can do anything, god bless both of you always .🌹🌹🌹🌹🙏🙏🙏😘😘💕💕💕

[@mariadapitanon6842]

Special couple❤️

[@carolpds9895]

Beautiful

[@christopherojukwu8579]

such a great couple

[@gladysrodgers4015]

Bless you Gina for courageousness hubby and dad do extremely well to may you. do well completely heal Beat Wishes to you

[@Morning60]

That’s my cousins and know that they are an amazing Couple I love them

[@perlaaguilar5934]

I want to be in a wheel chair just to have a Dad like that.

[@Samsung-fm4zh]

Amazing

[@KPlyf]

Beautiful people 😍😍

[@helenmoore4829]

It looks horrific the accident it's a blessing she pulled through Helen 2:13

[@martineb8185]

Wow,beautiful couple ,magnifique

[@bigearsandnoddy1]

There's always hope👏👏👏👏👌👍👋👋👋👋💪✌

[@johnculley5852]

What a lucky couple!

[@spagetd1526]

she came to my high school to tell us her story today and it was really interesting main idea: wear your seatbelt

[@walkerfleming4113]

anybody else see the little girl getting snatched by what looks to be her gma @ 3:45

[@williamwitzke953]

AWESOME....

[@allsocialniche5969]

#gofreego truly, point of time can changed our life

[@irenedavo3768]

Wow!

[@antoniameli1880]

love conquers all.👍👍👍👍

[@haifaah9923]

thats so beautiful and adorable . those who disliked this , they can goto hell

[@bethgoulden5672]

I feel like she wasn’t wearing a seatbelt

[@user-wj1fb8bz4q]

Tirs!!! Tirs!! Tirs! So beautiful..❤

[@grayskindablue]

2:39 and 2:47 lmao, my phone is cracked and it looked like the both had face and neck tats of abstract bold zig-zags- and I’m all for living your life but it really didn’t seem to match their aesthetic.

[@lovemecom3832]

♥

[@shyshy80]

😭😭🙏🙌👏❤❤

[@eileenrobertson922]

Eileen and the world to me to 9th to 6th and 6th and me to be the 6th and 6th to me to be the 6th to get to know you better not be the 6th to get to know the people who