A Tragic Accident Left Him Paralyzed, But God is Using Him to Teach and Give Others Hope (VIDEO)
When he was 16, Cole Sydnor dove into the James River in Virginia while out with some friends. His head struck a submerged rock, and he suffered a "horrific" fracture of his spine that left him paralyzed from the chest down.
From having his whole life ahead of him, he was now stuck with an uncertain future with the near certainty that he'd never walk again. But instead of giving up on living, Sydnor lives the fullest life he can in the service of others.
Now, he travels to church groups and schools to talk about the risks of feeling "invincible" in your youth and the importance of not taking your health and opportunities for granted. He's also active in encouraging and promoting awareness of the handicapped community.
Listen to Cole tell his story, and through the photos and his words, you can see that despite his accident, he is a young man filled with hope.