She suffered a spinal cord injury, but he stayed — 5 years later, they're still madly in love

Tales and fables convey that you know that it is the truest form of love when they are with you in your darkest times. It has been proven true by Erin Field, 24, from Boston, Massachusetts and her boyfriend Jack Benziger. They went through a hard battle together and emerged from it stronger than ever. The couple had been dating for only four months, according to a TikTok video, when Field sustained a spinal cord injury after a chimney fell on her during her senior year. 

She had C5 spinal cord damage, rendering her paralyzed from the waist down with minimal arm function and no finger function. However, Benziger did not leave her side for a second even though the injury meant his responsibilities increased, reported Daily Mail. Erin and Jack made the decision to hang out on the roof where her younger sibling had a hammock affixed to the chimney and the wall while they were visiting her brother Todd in Boston in July 2017.

She reportedly sat on the hammock sideways before Jack joined her, as reported by Boston.com. She can only recall that final detail before the accident. She had to be lifted off the roof by emergency personnel since the stairs were too narrow for a stretcher, and she was taken urgently to Massachusetts General Hospital. She uploaded footage of Jack kissing her forehead and adoring her in her TikTok video when she was in the hospital bed. She wrote in the video, "Jack never left my side — even though I told him he didn't have to stay."

In a YouTube video, the couple discussed their relationship and revealed that Jack had to leave just two weeks after her accident to study abroad in Germany. While Jack was abroad and her friends were returning to Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland, Erin acknowledged that it was challenging to rehabilitate at home while Jack was gone. They were apart for nearly six months before she returned to school to finish her senior year, despite his visits when he could.

She sent Jack pictures and videos from her time in school, including their 2018 graduation. In one adorable photo, they are both holding her in his arms while wearing their graduation robes. The two bought an apartment, a pet, and then another puppy after relocating from Maryland to Boston. She wrote in the footage, "He's been my best friend for three years. I am so lucky to have him." 

Since the injury, Erin has worked to increase her strength, and she has achieved her objective of being able to transfer into a manual wheelchair. She and Jack concur that their accident strengthened their relationship and brought them closer together. Their TikTok video has been viewed over 13.8 million times and has 2.6 million likes. One TikTok user commented, "That’s a real man! Also, you are amazing for overcoming ur accident." Another person added, "This made my heart melt. Admittedly, that's not hard to do, but I hope your lives go well."

You can follow Erin Field (@erin.fieldd) on TikTok for more heartwarming content.

This article originally appeared 1 year ago.