BOSTON — There's nothing quite like the feeling of hard work paying off. It's something Dylan Woodhouse felt tenfold last month.
The Kennebunk man was paralyzed from the chest down in 2010 after suffering a spinal cord injury from a bad dive at Old Orchard Beach.
"I kind of just saw white and realized I couldn't move my legs," he said.
His friend pulled him out of the water, and he was taken to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where he underwent surgery. He fractured his C7 vertebrae, causing major trauma to his spinal cord, and was told there was a less than 10 percent chance he would ever walk again.
But he worked hard for years to gradually regain motion and strength. That hard work came to fruition April 15, when he walked 26.2 miles to the Boston Marathon finish line.
With darkness setting in, Woodhouse was met with cheers and hugs as he crossed the iconic yellow line, arms raised in triumph. He was the final finisher.
Perhaps Boston saves the best for last.
"The whole marathon was the most uplifting experience of my life," Woodhouse told NEWS CENTER Maine. "All the little kids were reaching out for high fives. And all of the runners were super nice and said I was inspiring them as they ran past me."
Among those who were there with him in Boston was his sister, Destiny, who has been there with him throughout his entire journey. After he suffered the injury, she advocated for him to start therapy at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, where she was working at the time. Woodhouse spent five weeks at the hospital undergoing therapies that involved cutting-edge equipment.
"They had me hooked up to robotic legs that helped [my] legs move properly. I feel that helped me get back into motion," he explained.
Woodhouse has raised nearly $10,000 for the hospital as part of his marathon mission, and his fundraising page is still active. Click here to donate.
The father of two said his children are his motivation.
"I want to show them that they can do anything if they put their mind to it," he said.
His next goal is to finish the 2026 Boston Marathon and cut an hour off his total time from this year. Given how much he's achieved, it wouldn't be wise to bet against him. Boston Strong.