Exclusive: Walking YouTube Sensation Shares Story
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DENTON (CBSDFW.COM) - The temporarily paralyzed Denton teem who captured the world's attention on YouTube this week by surprising her nurse by walking, spoke exclusively with CBS 11 Friday.
17-year-old Bailey Murrill explained she was just having fun, horse-playing with her father in the living room of their Denton home when she felt something strange.
"I flipped over his shoulder and landed on my back and completely lost feeling in my legs." said Murrill.
Suddenly the unthinkable. She was paralyzed from the hips down. For 11 days, Murrill went through rehabilitation at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
"Then once the doctor started coming in holding my hand telling me I'm I have a 5% chance of walking I just kind of put up a front," said Murrill. "There were times that I would ask God why is he doing this?"
But two weeks ago, Murrill stood on her own and started walking. Her family came up with a creative way to share the news with the nurse technician who worked closely with her.
The video of Murrill rising from a wheelchair was shared by her mother and now nearly seven million people have been uplifted by it.
"I made the video public then it got so crazy I had to post it on YouTube," said Becky Murrill.
Bailey Murrill's doctors have diagnosed her with a rare condition called conversion disorder.
It causes the brain to think the body is paralyzed but can be treated. The teenager credits her faith and support from friends for a recovery that had even her medical staff jumping for joy.
"It's a message to people that are in the position I am in that if you have a bond with someone to keep it and never lose hope."
CBS11 wanted to interview the nurse about her part in this incredible story, but Murrill's family says UT Southwestern won't allow the nurse to be interviewed or even identified.
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