A former elite aviator for the U.S. Army is making a different kind of history now, after a motorcycle accident paralyzed him from the chest down.
Karen Jordan tells us the story of Roosevelt Anderson, who is using an amazing piece of technology to learn to walk again.
--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--
ROOSEVELT "R-J" ANDERSON JUNIOR HAD JUST BEEN ACCEPTED INTO AN ELITE AVIATION UNIT IN THE ARMY.. AND IT LOOKED LIKE THE SKY WAS THE LIMIT FOR HIS MILITARY CAREER.
(sot-ROOSEVELT "R.J." ANDERSON, JR./PARALYZED VETERAN) Being a soldier, it was the best job ever.
A JOB THAT ENDED IN NOVEMBER 20-12 AFTER A MOTORCYCLE CRASH PARALYZED HIM FROM THE CHEST DOWN.
And everything seems as if it was taken away.
SO HE STARTED WORKING HARD TOWARD A *NEW* GOAL.. WALKING AGAIN.
THE CHICAGO NATIVE ENLISTED THE HELP OF PHYSICAL THERAPISTS AT THE REHABILITATION INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO.. WHERE HE SAYS SESSIONS WERE MORE LIKE BASIC TRAINING.
I remember transferring for the first time out of a bed to my wheelchair. Took me about 5, 10 minutes to do, then my therapist said hey, I want you to do it 20 more times.
SOON, HE WAS READY FOR THE NEXT PHASE... (long pause) A ROBOTIC EXOSKELETON.
THIS IS THE "RE-WALK" DEVICE... IT PROVIDES POWERED HIP AND KNEE MOTION TO ENABLE PEOPLE WITH SPINAL CORD INJURIES TO STAND UPRIGHT AND WALK.
HE HAS TRAINED WITH AN EXOSKELETON FOR 3-YEARS... AND NOW GETS THE CHANCE TO TAKE HOME ONE OF THE 70-THOUSAND-DOLLAR DEVICES... A GIFT FROM AN ANONYMOUS BENEFACTOR.
KAREN STANDUP) Not only will the exoskeleton help RJ walk again, it will be a valuable tool for researchers, who will study the device's impact on secondary medical complications.
ARUN JAYRAMAN/RESEARCH SCIENTIST, RIC) People like RJ are prone to type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, renal failure, urinary tract infection.
OVER THE NEXT YEAR, SCIENTISTS WILL STUDY R-J'S USE OF THE EXOSKELETON.. TO DETERMINE LONG-TERM HEALTH BENEFITS.
I'm looking beyond walking. I see myself running. That's the goal.
KAREN JORDAN, ABC7 EYEWITNESS NEWS.
Magazine Article: Odyssey, April 2012, A paralyzed Man Walks -- with a Bionic Exoskeleton!