WBTV 3 News, Weather, Sports, and Traffic for Charlotte, NC-The Road to Recovery: Martin Lawing

The Road to Recovery: Martin Lawing

Seven months have passed since Martin Lawing's life changed.

The Burke County Sherrif's Deputy was shot in the neck during a stand-off last December. The wound left him paralyzed.

We last saw Lawing when he was in town for the NASCAR All-Star race.

He has been in Atlanta for the last 6 months in an intense rehab program.

Now, he is home for good.

WBTV's Kristen Hampton spent some time with Lawing at his new rehab home in Lincoln County.

Three hours a day, three times a week Lawing does rehab excercises.

"When I first got to Shepherd I think it was December 31st. I couldn't even lift my arms above my head," he said.

Six moths later, Martin Lawing is doing what they didn't think he would be able to.

"My job is to re train his nervous system so he is able to connect the brain with the muscle so he's able to get the muscle firing again. In order to make him functional," said Lawing's physical therapist, Tatum Robinson.

Right now, Martin can use his arms. He has limited use of his hands and he can't feel his legs.

The bullet that entered his neck and came out his back took away a lot of his function, but his determination was left intact.

"You can just say 'I don't want to do it anymore and I'm mad because of what happened and I'm just gonna take what has came to me,' but I mean that's no way to live." Lawing said.

Little things are big now, Martin just started being able to lock his knees on his own.

The faces he makes tell the story of a man determined to go as far as he can.

Everyone wants to know, will Martin be able to walk again? He won't answer that question. He says it's not up to him. "I think God willing, if that's what the plan is for me to walk again, then I will." He said, "Of course, everyone in a wheelchair would like to and if I'm supposed to be in a wheelchair then that's where I'm supposed to be. I'm glad I'm alive. I'm glad I'm alive. I probably shouldn't be here, but I am and I thank God I am."

Lawing has to travel more than 400 miles a week to rehab.

Right now, he is working on getting a handicapped accessible van for easier transport.