Hope Rises for Warminster Man Paralyzed from Hunting Accident

After a freak hunting accident three years ago took away the use of his legs, Daniel Webb had a hard time redefining the meaning of the word "lucky." It's not just the good fortune of surviving a 12-foot-fall from a tree while tracking a buck. It's the roll of the dice that gave him a life-changing injury that has a glimmer of hope in the distance. 

"The doctors say I have an incomplete injury," said Dan. "I have a tiny bit of movement, some signals are getting through."

Dan's wife, Missy, sums it up perfectly, "Dan will walk again."

Until that day comes, Dan has to keep his body strong and muscles intact to handle the weight and movement. One of the key components to his regular physical therapy is an amazing piece of technology called the ReWalk. Twice a week, he travels to Moss Rehab in Elkins Park to strap on the device, designed by Israeli inventor Dr. Amit Goffer.

The exoskeleton is attached to Dan's legs and powered by a backpack. Dan is one of only a small handful of U.S. patients that can handle the equipment because his upper body is still mobile and can handle the weight while standing. With the help of crutches, Dan can walk throughout the hospital and maintain the muscle memory needed to one day use his legs unassisted.

The ReWalk has not yet been approved by the Food & Drug Administration for home use and is only available through medical centers. Dan has also taken the device out for medical expos and demonstrations, showcasing the technology's capabilities.

"It took about two to three months to learn how to go 15 feet," said Dan. "There's a lot of technique to it. Now, I can go across the street to the CVS and grab a snack."

His life changed in a matter of seconds, and it took some time for the active father of two girls to adjust to sights such as his friends and family helping renovate his Warminster home.

"I'm a general contractor," said Dan. "It was tough to watch all these people doing things that I know I can do myself."

Dan and his family learned that things would be a little different around the house, that Dan and Missy's daughters Katie, 9, and Jessica, 13, would have to pitch in and that things could have been much worse.

"I still have my upper body, and most importantly, I still have my mind," said Dan. "I'm very thankful that I can talk and communicate with my family."

The loss of his legs has not stopped Dan from maintaining an active lifestyle. He makes regular use of his specially designed exercise equipment and participates with his wife in fundraising bike rides. They recently finished the 70-mile MS City to Shore ride that started in Hammonton, N.J., and finished in Ocean City.

Dan hits the road using an adaptive hand-cycle donated by the IM ABLE Foundation, a non-profit organization that helps disabled people remain active. The foundation's generosity has inspired Katie and Jessica to help give back by raising money through the sales of rainbow loom jewelry.

The Our Lady of Good Counsel students have created and sold rubber band bracelets and necklaces at family functions and at benefit races, raising approximately $1,000 in donations since April. The donations will go toward providing other families with a hand cycle.

"That's not just from the sales," said Missy. "We sent some to friends in Detroit that had the Detroit Lions' colors, and a woman out there heard about what they were doing and sent us a $250 check."

If you are interested in ordering a bracelet or necklace or would like to make a donation to the IM ABLE Foundation, contact Dan Webb through his Facebook page.