The Miracle Files — Ep. 54: "Paralyzed at Thirteen: Finding God in the Darkness"

Podcast: The Miracle Files
Host: Radio America
Episode: Paralyzed at Thirteen: Finding God in the Darkness
Date: December 15, 2025

Episode Overview

In this deeply moving episode, sisters Emily Jones and Holly Worthington share the remarkable story of Holden Jorgensen: a young man who, after a paralyzing injury at thirteen, experienced both the depths of despair and the heights of miraculous recovery. Holden’s account is one of hope, struggle, perseverance, faith, and ultimate triumph—not only in walking again, but in finding greater meaning through suffering. The episode explores themes of resilience, spiritual healing, the limits of medical science, and personal transformation.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Accident and Initial Diagnosis

• The Injury (03:23–05:15):
  • During a middle school football game, 13-year-old Holden felt his life shift in a heartbeat:
    • "I remember that feeling of waking up on the sidelines just completely alone and completely numb. And it was really, really an eerie feeling. Like all I felt was my upper half." — Holden Jorgensen (03:23)
  • Doctors diagnosed him with a spinal cord injury at T10 and additional breaks at L3–L5—complete paralysis from the waist down.
  • Multiple professionals told Holden, “It’ll be a great life, but it’ll be life in a wheelchair.” (05:21)

2. Struggles with Rehab and Loneliness

• Rehab Realities (06:29–07:36):
  • Rehab was distinct from physical therapy; it was about "learning to function in your new life."
  • Even basic tasks were enormous challenges; e.g., sneezing and falling out of his wheelchair.
  • The emotional toll was heightened by isolation and a sense of abandonment from friends.
• Darkest Moments and God’s Voice (08:32–09:56):
  • At his lowest, after repeated falls and overwhelming pain, Holden questioned God:
    • “Why would he have put me in this situation that he knew I couldn’t handle?” — Holden Jorgensen (08:32)
  • At this nadir, Holden recalls:
    • “It wasn’t like a voice… but it was words that I really felt…‘You are my son, and I need you to go through this to become who I need you to be.’” (09:56)

3. Choosing Hope and Relentless Effort

• Determined Attempts to Walk (10:17–11:38):
  • Equipped with crutches and braces, Holden began teaching himself to "walk" in a new way, enduring countless falls—(e.g., he once fell 83 times in one day).
  • Despite professional skepticism (“You have to get this out of your head. You’re not going to walk…You’re going to hurt yourself and you’re going to waste your parents’ money.” — Mayo Clinic doctor, 11:11), Holden persisted.

4. Return to School and New Perspective

• Empathy and Emotional Healing (12:43–14:05):
  • Back in school, Holden saw that all peers have struggles—some invisible:
    • “Everyone will face some form of, for lack of a better term, like their own paralysis.” — Holden Jorgensen (13:19)
  • He became more compassionate, recognizing emotional battles others faced, and sought to help classmates.

5. Medical Breakthrough and Real Recovery

• A Second Chance: Neuroworks Clinic (14:05–18:26):
  • Three years post-injury, a nurse recommended Neuroworks, a unique rehab clinic led by Dale Hull, another paralysis survivor.
  • For the first time, therapists told Holden: “There’s hope.” (15:41)
  • Technological therapy (EMG bikes and electrode stimulation) led to a breakthrough: a faint twitch in his hip flexor.
  • Over months, Holden learned to mentally control and contract individual muscle groups, eventually walking without crutches or braces:
    • “After three long years in a wheelchair, Holden did something that his doctors never thought possible. He took one small, shaky step.” — Emily Jones (18:05)
    • "I'm able to walk.” — Holden Jorgensen (18:20)
  • Remarkably, Holden never regained sensation below T10—he moves by commanding “numb” muscles.

6. Becoming a Firefighter — and Moving Mountains

• Passing the Firefighter Test (19:30–21:16):
  • Holden set his sights on becoming a firefighter, a profession demanding peak physical ability:
    • “It’s a super, super physical profession…so I didn’t even apply until I knew I could do it.” — Holden Jorgensen (20:25)
  • He passed all physical tests with flying colors, astonishing himself and others.
• Defining the Miracle (21:16–22:05):
  • “The only explanation that makes sense and feels good in my heart is that…this is really just God’s plan. And…I have no other word to describe what has happened in my life other than a miracle.” — Holden Jorgensen (21:16)

7. Life Beyond the Diagnosis

• Ongoing Health and Adaptation (22:05–22:42):
  • Holden is technically still a paraplegic, with numb legs and a need to check them for injury.
• Personal Fulfillment (22:42–23:28):
  • Holden’s greatest achievement was not becoming a firefighter, but building a family and finding inner peace.
  • “Before my legs healed, I felt that healing in my own heart and in my soul. And to me, that is the greatest miracle.” — Holden Jorgensen (23:30)

8. A Full-Circle Moment

• Helping Others (25:09–25:57):
  • As a firefighter, Holden once transported a patient to the same ER where he was taken after his injury—a moment of “coming full circle.”
• Physical Feats (26:19–27:30):
  • Holden’s resilience:
    • “I trained for a marathon…I ran 22 miles on my own… I just deadlifted 500 pounds.” — Holden Jorgensen (26:19, 26:31, 26:37)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Early Numbness:
  • “I remember waking up on the sidelines just completely alone and numb. And it was an eerie feeling.” — Holden Jorgensen (03:23)
• Hopelessness and God’s Message:
  • “Why would He have put me in this situation that He knew I couldn't handle?...I remember…‘You are my son, and I need you to go through this to become who I need you to be.’” — Holden Jorgensen (08:32–09:56)
• Breakthrough at Neuroworks:
  • “They…looked at me and said, you know, there’s hope.” — Holden Jorgensen (15:41)
• The Mind–Body Connection:
  • “I don’t feel my legs…I’m able to do those things better than I used to. It used to be very robotic.” — Holden Jorgensen (18:54)
• The Miracle Defined:
  • “I have no other word to describe what has happened in my life other than a miracle.” — Holden Jorgensen (21:16)
• Spiritual Healing:
  • “Before my legs healed, I felt that healing in my own heart and in my soul. And to me, that is the greatest miracle.” — Holden Jorgensen (23:30)
• Physical Achievements:
  • “I ran 22 miles on my own...I just deadlifted 500 pounds.” — Holden Jorgensen (26:19, 26:31, 26:37)
  • Hosts' reactions:
    • “He basically ran a full marathon and deadlifted 500 pounds. Do you know how much weight that is?” — Holly Worthington (26:50)

Important Timestamps

• Injury and Diagnosis: 03:23–05:15
• Lowest Moment and God’s Message: 08:32–09:56
• Determined Effort to Walk Again: 10:17–11:38
• Empathy and New Perspective in School: 12:43–14:05
• Neuroworks Breakthrough: 15:41–18:26
• Walking Again (Miracle): 18:05–18:26
• Firefighter Test and Success: 19:30–21:16
• Spiritual Realization: 23:28–24:47
• Full-Circle ER Moment: 25:30–25:57
• Physical Feats (Marathon, Deadlift): 26:19–27:30

Tone and Language

Throughout the episode, the tone is warm, sincere, and deeply empathetic. The hosts maintain a conversational style rich in emotional resonance, emphasizing hope, faith, and personal transformation. Holden’s voice is earnest and candid; his humility, humor, and determination are palpable. The hosts, Emily and Holly, balance awe and relatability, providing context, encouragement, and heartfelt responses to each stage of Holden’s journey.

Conclusion

Holden Jorgensen’s story is a testament to the human spirit’s resilience, the mysterious nature of miracles, and the quiet power of faith. After suffering a devastating injury, enduring years of hopelessness and physical limitation, Holden’s journey—through persistent effort, family support, and divine intervention—culminated not just in the improbable act of walking, but in a life of service, empathy, and renewed joy. As both a survivor and a rescuer, Holden’s story brings the episode full circle—reminding listeners that, even in our darkest seasons, miracles are possible and that the most profound healing often begins within.