There's something I've wanted to say here for a long time.
I can walk again.
All the drugs and the surgeries and the therapies have paid off- eight years after sitting down in a wheelchair I am finally able to rise and step away from it.
Oh, I still have a long way to go- my leg muscles were almost completely atrophied due to the severity of my illness, but little by little I got better and I'm getting ready to leave the prison of that damned chair behind me. Trust me when I tell you that the ability to walk to the bathroom or the kitchen is not an ability to take for granted.
I sincerely hope that none of you ever find out first hand what it's like to find yourself limited in such a fundamental way. It's very hard to mentally assimilate all the changes it forces upon a person, and I know it can leave one angry and bitter. Fortunately for me my personal philosophy helped me to stay hopeful and not end up hating life.
The best of luck to all of you who walk the path with a smile on your face. And if you happen to look down and see strange footprints in the dust at your feet, they may just be mine. You never know!
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Such wonderful news. 
More like victory over my own body.
I am beyond thrilled to hear your fantastic news!
So much effort. And now it's paying off.
Keep on trucking!
I had a minor stroke two years ago and had to learn to walk again. One of those things which we do take for granted, and miss it sorely when we don't have it. My felicitations on the happy event!
-- Mal
Awesome news.
Keep on keeping on, my friend.
I just hope I don't wake up to see Rover next to me...
My best to you.
Congratulations. I'm so happy for you. What a great testament to just plain persistence.
to keep trying and pushing.
Hope you are not rushing, too. Take your time getting re-acquainted with your legs.
Cheers!
I think I'm finally beginning to convince them I'm right after all.
I don't know you, but you're an inspiration to me. 
Perhaps everybody here will join in the fun!
& such a heartwarming testament of your struggle.
Best of luck to you in your continued recovery &
Thank you for sharing your inspiring story.
your hopeful attitude will serve you, and those around you, well.
YAY!! Seriously HAPPY for you!
I work with Deaf people...many of my friends are Deaf...and I think because we're all separate, we can't know what someone else's path is. Even though I surely do wish I could. Like, full-on empathy.
I can't imagine! WOW! You should write about it--the day to day experience.... ❤️
The first three years I was in agony, and that tends to blur the mind. A lot of the chronology is simply not there any more. Once in a while I flash on something that had gone away, but the details are missing.
Such is life when you're flat on your back and stoned to the gills on pain pills 24 hours a day.
I may one day attempt to write about the personal philosophy I've developed over my lifetime. But OTOH who would want to read it?
I just saw-- you write good. It was good reading.
I *wish* I could write my stuff in a way people could read.
I think everyone wants to somehow *know* another's experience. I guess that's why we like stories in the first place.
So happy for you. I bet it took a lot of work. You really are a DUer.
Good for you!
Having fought a similar fight, fortunately it took eight months, not eight years, I know what hard work you put into your recovery. Enjoy life and and my deepest wishes for happiness for you.
It must have been tough to keep hoping and working for eight long years, but you did it!
I've been away from DU for quite some time, so I am not entirely familiar with your situation, but the news that you can walk again brought tears to my eyes. Congratulations!
I'm so happy for you!
I spent three months in a wheel chair once, due to an unusual illness. I lived in the second story of an historic home & if it hadn't been for friends who helped me, including many super nice taxi drivers!, it would have been much more difficult than it was.
Congratulations & may you continue to make progress!