Blessed by God, I Overcame Odds to Walk Again, Brock Mealer Says, Comparing Himself to Trump
Brock Mealer, an Ohio man who learned to walk again after doctors told him he only had a one percent chance of getting back on his feet after he was paralyzed in a car crash in 2007, walked out on stage at the Republican National Convention Thursday declaring how Jesus made his comeback a reality.
Mealer also compared himself to newly-minted Republican presidential nominee, Donald Trump who he says was also given a one percent chance of becoming the Republican presidential nominee by pundits when he started his journey last year.
"Christmas Eve 2007, my parents, my younger brother, Elliott, his girlfriend, Hollis Richer, and I were driving to church. Out of nowhere, a car ran a stop sign, crashing into us. My father, my hero, David Paul Mealer, and Hollis died that night," Mealer began in telling his story.
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He said he endured more than eight hours of surgery immediately after the accident and when he awoke in his hospital room, his doctor gave him the "devastating news."
"My spinal cord damage was about the worst she had ever seen. She said that I would likely never walk again — that even a one percent chance was overly optimistic," he said. "But that one percent was all I needed. Through it all, I had faith in Jesus Christ, I believed in myself and strived to make that one percent a reality."
Mealer's faith in Jesus helped him accomplish not just walking again, but many other "blessings" as well.
"Truthfully, God made that one percent a reality; His will, not mine. He blessed me with football coaches Rich and Mike, who gave me a fighting chance. His blessings enabled me to graduate from The Ohio State University and go on to be cheered by University of Michigan fans, as I led the Wolverines onto the field. He blessed me with my beautiful wife, Haley; we walked down the aisle together. He gave me countless other blessings. This very moment, for me, is a testament to God working all things for the good," said Mealer.
He then tied his story to that of the Republican presidential nominee's unlikely road to the nomination.
"And guess who else was told he had a one percent chance? A company that analyzes polling data for CNN predicted last year that Donald Trump had a one percent chance of winning the Republican nomination for president. Mr. Trump, welcome to the club!" Mealer said.
He then encouraged Republicans to rally behind their nominee and help him win the White House.
"I defied the odds. But I couldn't do it on my own," he said. "Donald Trump can't do it alone either. He needs our help and support. Just as Michigan was willing to adopt a Buckeye, for a cause greater than ourselves, we can unite behind Donald Trump to Make America One Again."
Trump officially accepted his party's nomination on Thursday night during which he reiterated a pledge among other things, to repeal a controversial piece of legislation, commonly known as the Johnson Amendment that penalizes charitable organizations including churches for endorsing political candidates.
