- Dec 20, 2016

What Step, NextStep!

From Flying To Walking

Who am I?

Well, let's just say I'm that guy. The guy that never let anything stop him. The guy that always made the unlikely possible. The daredevil, the badass. The one who would never let anything stand in his way, and conquered all his fears. The one who always dreamed of greatness no matter how far it seemed or difficult it'd be. The one that would laugh when others said, "the sky is the limit", knowing that it was just a step in his journey. That's me. Ignacio Montoya. A fighter pilot & combat systems officer select of the United States Air Force who died for almost 15 minutes four years ago. Today I am the Executive Director of an unbelievable facility called NextStep Atlanta Paralysis Recovery Center and I am on a fierce mission to get not just myself but hundreds and thousands out of wheelchairs and back to chasing their dreams.

I am a 26-year-old graduate from Georgia State University and a Combat Systems Officer/Pilot Select of the United States Air Force. I am on a fierce mission of total neurologic restoration to return to service and defend this nation once again. Four years ago I experienced a traumatic accident that turned my life completely upside down. My dreams, desires, and passions seemed to be lost in an instant. However, I have spent the last three years fighting for my life, growing in my faith, learning about myself, traveling the US in search of options, and today fighting to get out of this wheelchair. New dreams are being made. I am now the Executive Director of NextStep Atlanta Paralysis Recovery Center because I've seen that, like me, there are many people in similar situations that want to fight for more. I want to help give them that opportunity to do so and in the process get healthy, stay focused, and improve their quality of life. I hope and pray that my organization and journey is shared with everyone and anyone whom it can inspire; but more importantly that through it and the message I deliver the world learns more about spinal cord injuries and their incredible medical obstacles, me and my relentless journey of recovery, and finally can not only help me on my mission of returning back to the cockpit but also help my NextStep Atlanta team get back to chasing their dreams---by supporting my crowdfunding youcaring.com/fromflyingtowalking.

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