Jessica Tawil, who was left paralysed by a spinal cord injury at 16, has taken her first steps in a decade, drawing hundreds of millions of views on social media.
Tawil was 16 when a car accident in 2014 left her with a T6 paraplegic spinal cord injury. The incident abruptly changed her life, leaving her unable to walk and dependent on a wheelchair.
She has recalled the shock of realising she could not move after the accident. The experience, including being left on a deserted road by her friends, remains a defining memory.
Ten years later, Tawil stood upright and took steps with the help of the Atalante robotic exoskeleton, developed by French robotics company Wandercraft. Videos of the moment attracted more than 330 million views on TikTok and a further 140 million on Instagram, according to the supplied report.
The footage captures Tawil’s nervous anticipation giving way to joy as she walks alongside her mother. For Tawil, the experience offered more than a physical milestone: it also renewed her motivation to pursue rehabilitation.
How the robotic exoskeleton works
The Atalante is a powered exoskeleton designed to help people with mobility impairments stand and walk. Its robotic joints and control systems coordinate movements at the hips and knees to support walking.
Before joining the trial, Tawil underwent a detailed screening process, including full-body bone-density scans and X-rays, and specialists fitted the suit to her body.
Recalling the experience, she said the scans were among the most nerve-racking parts of the process. She also described the significance of walking towards her own reflection after a decade.
“Ten years later, I was able to walk toward my own reflection,” Tawil said, explaining that the experience motivated her to return to rehabilitation.
What the technology could mean for rehabilitation
Powered exoskeletons are being explored as tools in spinal cord injury rehabilitation. Depending on the individual and the device, training may help people practise standing and stepping, while rehabilitation programmes can also target balance, trunk control and other functional goals.
However, outcomes vary, and the technology does not necessarily restore independent walking or reverse paralysis. Access also depends on factors such as medical suitability, specialist supervision and the availability of rehabilitation facilities.
Researchers are also investigating robotic technologies for stroke rehabilitation and other conditions that affect mobility.
Tawil’s experience has brought wider attention to the intersection of robotics, neuroscience and rehabilitation. Her account highlights both the technical work involved in using an exoskeleton and the emotional significance of regaining an experience she had not had for ten years.
For Tawil, standing and taking those steps became a source of renewed motivation. Her story has resonated with millions online, offering a glimpse of how assistive technology can create new opportunities for people living with mobility challenges.
The post Paralysed Woman Walks for the First Time in 10 Years (VIDEO) appeared first on Greek City Times.