Nathan McAlister's, senior in laboratory technolgy, dream was to graduate from Auburn after having several family members attend Auburn, as well as going to many football games as a child.
In December 2011, that dream had a slim chance of becoming a reality.
During the winter break of his first year at Auburn, McAlister said he felt stabbing pains in his abdomen and was rushed to the hospital.
After numerous appointments with doctors at multiple hospitals, the doctors at the University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital gave McAlister and his family a diagnosis.
McAlister had an arteriovenous malformation, which caused blood vessels to bleed into his spine, resulting in paralysis from his chest down.
"The whole time I was in the hospital, I couldn't sit up," McAlister said. "I could move my arms and my head, but I couldn't actually sit up in the bed."
McAlister then flew to Palo Alto, Calif., where a doctor specialized in arteriovenous malformations, practiced.
Doctors warned McAlister he may never be able to walk again.
With a single mother and three siblings, money for trips across the United States was not always readily available.
Robert Richardson, family friend of the McAlisters, created a pancake benefit at his church to raise funds for McAlister's flight to Palo Alto Hospital, as well as money for prescriptions and trips to the physical therapist.
Richardson was able to raise $1,600 for McAlister through the fundraiser.
"I just think his story is of perseverance and hard work," Richardson said. "I never heard him say anything about what happened. He wanted things to just be normal."
Within eight months of being released from the hospital after surgery in Palo Alto, McAlister was able to walk again.
"It's been a long journey, but I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel," McAlister said. "I just feel really lucky and blessed to be recovered."
McAlister said he has always been a glass-half-full type of person.
"I just look for silver linings in situations," McAlister said. "When I first got in (to the hospital) I wasn't going to feel sorry for myself. If there's a way I can get back to my normal self then I was going to do anything to get back to that."
Daniel McAlister, Nathan's brother, spent every night with Nathan throughout the month and a half period he was in the hospital.
"He's one of the strongest minded people I know," Daniel said. "At first when he was in the hospital, everybody was going crazy worrying about him and he was the calmest out of all of us."
Nathan does not take anything for granted, especially being able to bowl since returning to The Plains.
Nathan, his two brothers and Richardson would bowl every Monday night before he was diagnosed.
"Auburn is one of my favorite places on Earth," Nathan said. "Just being able to get up and go get food whenever you want to or go bowling is a great feeling."
Robertson saw Nathan throughout the stages of his illness.
"To me, when he was able to (bowl) I knew he was getting back to where he was before it happened," Richardson said.
After graduation, Nathan said he wants to pursue a medical career at the same hosptial in which he was treated.
"When I was in the hospital the whole time, when the doctors and nurses usually lose (people) with big words, I could talk to them and understand what they were talking about," Nathan said.
Nathan said his love for Auburnfootball makes him take head coach Gus Malzahn's 'new day' message to heart.
"That's how I think about my situation," Nathan said. "It's a chance for me to keep my life moving forward toward setting myself up with a career and good start on life."
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