David Wilson, Chattanooga Teen Injured In Super Tuesday Tornado, Regains Use Of Legs

David Wilson remembers pretty much everything about the day that changed his life.  He had gone to take cover from a storm in the bathroom of a dorm with some friends.  "And I remember looking into his eyes and watching the wall behind him crack and then I jumped off the counter and in the next second it was all gone,"

David WilsonWhen Wilson talks of the night a tornado picked-up his college dorm and buried him underneath it, you soon realize that's just the beginning of his story.  "I knew God was going to get us out, I just knew. I didn't think he was going to let us die there that night and he didn't."

The 2007 graduate of Chattanooga Christian School survived, but not without complications.  The weight of 21-feet of storm debris cut-off circulation to his legs, causing nerve damage and several other ailments.  Wilson says he's pretty much recovered medically, except "a lot of the pain has been difficult, that's probably been the hardest part the pain in my right foot."

Despite undergoing countless treatments, surgeries, and procedures, Wilson says God keeps his spirit high.

He just started rehab here at Siskin Hospital a week and a half ago. In that time, he says he's gone from being able to stand for 4-seconds to 17-minutes this past weekend.

Its too early to say David will fully recover, as in being able to walk like he did before the storm.  But his doctor believes with physical therapy stimulating his muscles, he will walk again.  Dr. David Bowers says "so he's weak in his legs we're going to strengthen his legs and prevent any complications from happening while his legs are weak."

In Wilson's mind, there are no ifs, ands, or buts. "I don't know if I'll walk out of this hospital, but I will walk again," he says.

Wison wants to return to Union University in the fall, but after learning to walk again -- sharing his faith will be his top priority.  "I always prayed, ever since I was 15 or 16 that I would have some experience that would give me a way to share my faith with others, that would allow me to say 'this is what happened to me and this is how God got me through it, now you can believe.'  And now I have that experience."

To watch the complete 24 minute interview with David Wilson, go to our Bonus Video section, linked here