“I Can’t Walk, Yet I’ve Been to 80 Cities,” a Paralyzed Woman Proves That Love Helps Us Conquer Life’s Obstacles

When life throws a massive hardship at us, we can either give up or decide to fully face it with all our power and rise above it all. Giulia decided to go with the second option. When the then-teenager was told that she’d have to use a wheelchair, she knew that her life was forever changed. But she had one thing to count on, her unbreakable determination. And life has blessed her with much more than she could’ve ever imagined.

Bright Side wants to share an inspiring story that proves we can overcome almost anything if we continue to have faith in our abilities.

The moment everything changed

It was the end of summer in 2011 when the accident happened. Giulia was 19 and returning home on a scooter with her ex-boyfriend when suddenly they slipped. She made a hard backward movement and broke a vertebra.

Needless to say, the young woman went through indescribable physical and emotional pain. She realized that she couldn’t feel her legs anymore, but giving up on life wasn’t something Giulia would do. She decided to gather her strength, face this challenge with a smile and put on a brave face for the sake of her loved ones.

Her strong character and steely determination helped her adapt to this sudden shift. Giulia, who was very physically active previously and even considered becoming a tennis teacher, was now confined to a wheelchair. She had to restart her life from scratch and reconsider her plans, but she had set her mind on fully facing her reality.

The young woman was resolved not to lose her independence or her autonomy, and she succeeded. Bit by bit, she learned to drive, work regularly, and even design her home to meet her needs.

Destiny brought her true love.

As she was carrying on with her life, little did Giulia know that she would meet the person who would become her other half and her forever partner in her life’s adventures.

She met Andrea during her rehabilitation. He was a young physiotherapist doing his internship, and she was his patient. They saw each other every day for months, and with time, their conversations became deeper. They shared their dreams, goals, and plans. In one word, they simply clicked.

As Andrea’s internship came to an end and Giulia was about to leave the hospital, he suggested, “Why don’t we go to Australia?” The question was sudden, unexpected, and seemed full of uncertainty for Giulia, and yet, she simply said, “Yes.”

Their Australian trip was the first of many to come. They bonded more and more through their travels and fell madly in love with each other. Traveling made Giulia feel free, and each adventure helped the couple test their limits a little more.

Exploring the world and rediscovering herself

The 2 travel companions and inseparable soulmates tied the knot and have now visited more than 23 countries and 80 cities together.

Giulia knows that experiencing all the places she’s been to in such a complete way would have been impossible without her husband. They’ve been to the 4 corners of the world — Machu Picchu, Sigiriya, and the Great Wall of China are just a few places on a long list of marvelous locations.

Andrea does the walking and she clings to his back. This is how, together, they have crossed miles, climbed thousands of steps, and discovered the wonders of the world. As Giulia puts it, ’’My husband carries me. Up stairs, up mountains, across the world.’’

Thanks to her partner, she’s been to places she cannot access otherwise. She’s embarking on a series of journeys of self-discovery with Andrea, where each adventure allows her to learn new things about herself and life.

Choosing to be the exception, not the rule

Today, at 30, Giulia’s still very young, of course. But she has already been through a lot. She had to redefine herself, her priorities, and her plans, and we can say that she’s truly excelling at it and thriving. But she has no specific advice to give on how to overcome life’s hardships. The only thing she believes in is to ’’look for what makes you alive, happy, and free.’’

Also, when you have a goal, do anything in your power to make it your reality, and never allow anyone to tell you it’s impossible. After all, you’re the only person who can decide what you can achieve.

Today, Giulia serves as amazing proof that we can make anything happen in life if we have the determination to do it, even if that means exploring the world in a wheelchair. We only have to decide to be the exception and not the rule, and this is exactly what Giulia has done.

And we couldn’t agree with her more when she says, ’’You can lose almost everything, you can lose your legs and maybe even your wheelchair, but nobody can take away your determination.’’

What do you think of Giulia’s journey? Do you agree that our determination is the only thing that can stay with us, even if we lose everything else?