After 1 year in a wheelchair, she walked again in front of her parents — and they lost it

Genna (@hope.again.gen on Instagram), a woman with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), surprised her parents as she appeared in front of them, walking independently after a whole year. The beautiful video, shared on May 29, 2025, went viral on the internet, receiving over 2 million views online as of the time of writing.

Genna's mother was chilling in the living room, watching television, when she entered the space. At first, Genna's mom didn't notice anything unusual, but her jaw dropped when she finally realized that her daughter could walk on her own. "Oh my God," she gasped, looking at Genna in complete disbelief. As her daughter walked closer, she could no longer control her emotions as she pulled Genna into her loving arms while happy tears rolled down her cheeks. One look at Genna's beloved mother, and you will realize how much she mourned seeing her baby girl suffer. Next, Genna went to the other room to surprise her father, and as expected, he, too, was speechless, seeing his daughter walking towards him.

"I’ve been waiting for this moment for so long. I’ll let the video do all the talking. Family is everything; take nothing for granted," Genna wrote in the caption. Needless to say, Genna's parents had somehow become her shield, letting her move forward despite her physical limitations. Just like them, children, especially those with disabilities, can thrive if they get the love and care that they deserve from their parents. "Focus on what children can do, their abilities, rather than their disability," a child development expert shared with UNICEF, talking about how parents can support a child with disabilities.

The heartfelt moment, when shared on social media, received an overwhelming response. For instance, a user who goes by @mijn_nah_route on Instagram commented, "I am so glad to know this feeling. Heartbreaking and heart-healing at the same time." Similarly, @shanialillyx said, "What a beautiful moment! It made me tear up. You really can’t explain that feeling to anyone, can you? I know I don’t know you personally, only from watching your videos, but I knew you’d do it!" Another user who goes by @nicolaobrien2910 on the platform said, "My husband has FND, and we’ve been waiting for a moment like this. I believe it will happen one day, even if we wait another 2 years or longer."

On the other hand, @theblackjosh shared, "I bet they felt like it was seeing you as a baby take your first steps again." @jonathan.johnson.36 revealed, "I'm tearing up. My wife was in a very serious motorcycle accident almost 4 years ago. I had to help teach her how to walk again. And keep track of her steps and distance along the way. Now, she gets around very well." Echoing the sentiments, @big_buckle1986, pointed out, "Absolutely beautiful, you just had a grown man in tears. Keep up the great work, and congratulations on your progress. You are a force to be reckoned with." @westcampny pointed out, "Mom’s hand cradling your head is the sweetest thing!"

You can follow Genna (@hope.again.gen) on Instagram to stay updated with her journey.