Doctors said she would never walk again — 3 years later, she hiked to her late dad's final resting place

Charlotte Craig, known on Instagram as @charcraigg, has shared a video documenting a personal milestone: visiting her father’s grave for the first time in three years after being told she might never walk again. In the text over the video, she wrote: "Finally visited my dad after 3 years of being in and out of a wheelchair and being told I may never walk again." The footage shows Craig hiking slowly with the assistance of crutches as she approaches her father’s resting place, which was also his "favorite place." The video, posted on July 22, has gained 221,000 views and more than 10,000 likes.

According to a previously tagged post, in 2022, Craig, who is known for her comedy content, suffered a life-changing injury during a paddleboarding accident, which dislocated her knee. The incident left her unable to continue her career as a teacher and triggered a lengthy recovery process. Doctors had warned that she might never regain her ability to walk. Since then, Craig has used social media to document her rehabilitation. Her Instagram account includes dozens of videos chronicling her progress, ranging from early physical therapy sessions to personal updates on pain management and relearning basic mobility. That's why visiting her father's grave was not only a physical milestone but also marked a return to something personal she had been denied for years.

Her story shows how determination and willpower can help one achieve the "impossible." A study published in International Journal of Behavioral Medicine found that beliefs about willpower can strongly influence how well someone copes with serious health challenges. People who see willpower as a limited resource were more likely to struggle with self-control and persistence when faced with illness or injury. On the other hand, those who believed willpower isn’t easily depleted were better able to stay focused and stick to their recovery routines, even during the most demanding phases.

Her video drew a strong reaction from viewers, many of whom shared personal messages of support. @kiowa_girl wrote, "I'm so happy you were able to achieve such an amazing accomplishment. Your dad would be proud." @kathymaynard2 said, "I’m not crying, you are. Best thing I’ve watched — so happy for you. You are an absolutely phenomenal woman. @sifi_turbo commented, "Well done. I admire your determination, not just to walk again, but to make it to your dad’s grave. Just don’t go paddleboarding again. It’s a beautiful place. Where is it? I’d love to see that view." @nefretetexx quipped, "Strange they told you that you wouldn’t walk. I had a similar accident. Doctors told me it would take time and training, but full recovery was possible. Every bone in my legs was broken."

@richard.boothby.127 chimed in, "Seeing your achievement for to visit your dad, knowing the struggles you've had, has just got me proper emotional as I lost my dad recently. YOU SMASHED IT. WELL DONE!!" @hicksonite said, "I don’t think I realised that you were going through these challenges. You’re always such a breath of fresh air and I LOVE when your videos pop up on my feed. Your energy and laughter are infectious! I’m so pleased you got to visit your father’s resting place. What an achievement! Keep being you - you’re awesome!!"

You can follow Charlotte Craig (@charcraigg) on Instagram for more disability advocacy and comedy content.