YOU
YOU TRIED
YOU TRIED A LOW-CARB DIET? LET US KNOW AT KARE 11.COM .
>>> ANY ATHLETE WILL TELL YOU,
TRAINING FOR A RACE IS NOT
EASY.
EASY.
EASY. MANY HAVE THEIR OWN PERSONAL
HURDLES.
HURDLES.
HURDLES. A CAMBRIDGE MAN'S OBSTACLE,
BEING PARALYZED FROM THE WAIST
DOWN, AND NOT EVEN THAT IS
STOPPING HIM.
STOPPING HIM. KARE 11'S HEIDI WOODALL HAS
THE STORY.
THE STORY. >> Reporter: SOME SHOTS YOU
LAND, AND OTHERS YOU DON'T.
FOR JACKSON LARSON, HE WILL
ALWAYS TRY, NO MATTER THE
OBSTACLE.
OBSTACLE.
OBSTACLE. >> IF SOMEONE TELLS YOU YOU
CAN'T DO SOMETHING, THAT GIVES
ME MORE MOTIVATION TO TRY TO GO
FOR IT.
FOR IT.
FOR IT. >> Reporter: A DRIVE THAT HAS
ONLY GROWN SINCE 2010 WHEN
EVERYTHING SHIFTED.
EVERYTHING SHIFTED. >> I WAS DRIVING A 1970S CHEVY
NOVA, AND I HAD PUT IT INTO
PARK, AND I OPENED THE
PASSENGER DOOR, AND ALL OF A
SUDDEN, IT STARTED DOING DONUTS
IN REVERSE.
IN REVERSE. SO I GOT CLOSER TO THE VEHICLE,
AND I TRIED TO JUMP IN TO STOP
IT, AND THAT DIDN'T WORK OUT.
>> THE HOLIDAY SEASON AT THE
LARSON HOME --
>> Reporter: AT 16, JACKSON
BECAME PARALYZED FROM THE WAIST
DOWN.
DOWN.
DOWN. LEARNING HOW TO ADAPT AT
GILLETTE CHILDREN'S SPECIALTY
HEALTHCARE.
HEALTHCARE. A PUSH THAT YEARS LATER GOT HIM
OUT OF HIS WHEELCHAIR AND INTO A
REWALK.
REWALK.
REWALK. IN 2014, IT BECAME THE FIRST
FDA APPROVED ROBOTIC
EXOSKELETON.
EXOSKELETON. >> I WAS THE PERFECT CANDIDATE,
BECAUSE I DID A GOOD JOB WITH
KEEPING MYSELF IN SHAPE.
I CAN FEEL MY LEGS ALREADY ARE
A LOT LOOSER.
>> Reporter: IN 2016, JACKSON
BECAME THE FIRST PERSON IN
MINNESOTA TO BE APPROVED FOR
ONE BY AN INSURANCE COMPANY.
>> IT IS EXCITING SEEING HIS
PROGRESS.
PROGRESS.
PROGRESS. >> Reporter: A DIFFERENT VIEW
THAT HAS HELPED HIM REACH NEW
GOALS.
GOALS.
GOALS. >>
GOALS. >> I WOULD SAY THE FURTHEST
I'VE EVER WALKED WITH THIS WAS
ABOUT ONE HALF MILES.
TODAY WILL BE THE TRUE TEST.
>> Reporter: THE NONPROFIT
PROVIDES HOUSING GRANTS TO
PEOPLE WHO HAVE -- TO FAMILIES
WHO HAVE SOMEONE WHO WAS
CRITICALLY INJURED.
CRITICALLY INJURED. >> BECAUSE OF THAT I WAS ABLE
TO SPEND MORE TIME WITH MY
FAMILY.
FAMILY.
FAMILY. >> Reporter: NOW, HE'S THERE IN
TURN.
TURN.
TURN. WALKING HIS FIRST 5K WITH HIS
BROTHER BEHIND HIM.
>> IT FEELS GOOD HAVING YOU
GUYS BEHIND ME.
THE 24-YEAR-OLD IS ALWAYS
MOVING.
MOVING.
MOVING. AND HE MAKES YOUTUBE VIDEOS,
SHOWING OTHERS WHAT'S POSSIBLE
AFTER A SPINAL CORD INJURY.
>> I HAVE WALKED AROUND MALL OF
AMERICA, THERE WAS A MOTHER
WITH HER DAUGHTER, AND DAUGHTER
WAS IN A WHEELCHAIR, AND SHE
LOOKED AT ME AND MY BROTHER AND
SAID THERE IS HOPE.
IT GIVES ME THIS EUPHORIC
FEELING, AND I GET TO SEE
PEOPLE AT EYE LEVEL.
>> Reporter: BUT HILLS CAN BE A
CHALLENGE.
CHALLENGE. A REALITY OF THIS COURSE.
>> IT IS MORE DANGEROUS TO GO
DOWNHILL THAN IT IS TO GO
UPHILL.
UPHILL.
UPHILL. >> Reporter: FOR THE RACE, HE
IS BACK IN THE CHAIR, AND HE IS
REMINDED OF THIS QUOTE.
>> IF YOU CAN'T RUN, WALK.
IF YOU CAN'T WALK, CRAWL, BUT
KEEP MOVING FORWARD.
>> Reporter: FORWARD, BACK ON
HIS FEET FOR THE FINISH.
A VICTORY SHARED. IN ST. PAUL,
HEIDI WOODALL, KARE 11 NEWS.
>> REWALK SAYS THAT WITHOUT
INSURANCE, THE TECHNOLOGY COSTS
$100,000 WITH A FIVE YEAR
WARRANTY.
WARRANTY.
WARRANTY. >> I LOVE THAT MOM.
VERY INSPIRATIONAL, THANKS FOR