Remarkable Women: Natalie Barnhard reveals there's life after injury

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (WIVB)-- At 24 years old, Natalie Barnhard had her entire life planned. The Buffalo native was working as a physical therapist assistant when one moment altered her life permanently.

" I was at work one day and a 600-pound weight machine toppled and fell on me," Natalie said. "I fell back, shattered C5 and C6 vertebrae in my neck, which completely incapacitated me. I understood immediately that I was incapacitated."

Natalie was hurried into surgical treatment at ECMC where medical professionals saved her life. She invested two months there before heading to Atlanta, Georgia, to continue her recovery at Shepherd Center-- among the leading rehab centers in the U.S. When it was time to go home, truth set in.

" I was now back in my own environment, trying to figure out how to live life in a wheelchair, and the vibrant moved with all my buddies and household," Natalie stated. "Everything that I had worked for was simply gone, and now I have to figure out how to live paralyzed.

Natalie's mother, Mary Lynn Barnhard, said the injury and the care that followed was a knowing process that affected the entire household.

You don't understand where you're going to get it from, you don't understand what concerns to ask, you don't understand who to ask," Mary Lynn said. Natalie (right) and her mother, Mary Lynn (left).

Natalie went from therapist to client. She wanted to turn her injury into a blessing for others, so she began a chapter of the United Spinal Association in Buffalo to bring resources to Western New York-- even promoting for the wider disability community on Capitol Hill to combat for standard requirements.

" I wished to offer finances and funding for people right away for either rehab or devices or something for their home," Natalie stated. "Just to change their life, to make their life more independent and simpler.".





Counting on her faith, Natalie embarked on her next journey.

" I remember in the hospital simply talking and crying to my mommy like, ‘‘ Why would God give me a gift to help individuals simply to take it away?'" Natalie stated. "Now I see it all these years later and like how God has literally put the pieces in my life for me to even get to this point where I'm at ... I seem like He did choose me to do something so crucial and so unique for our neighborhood.".

In 2008, Natalie formed what is now called the Motion Project Foundation.

" I feel so blessed that I got to go to a specific center and that's why I desire the customized center here," Natalie stated. "Not just can we give people the rehab however we can offer them peer mentorship.

Natalie's center is described as a place for people to come to recuperate after a life-altering spine injury through modern equipment, exceptionally trained therapists, research, care assistance, advocacy and navigation.

" Not everyone can be lucky enough to leave this area to get that specialized care however everybody should have that specialized care," Mary Lynn stated. "That's what the center is doing. It's offering individuals that chance to get the care that they require.".

Natalie gets the Finn Bullers Advocate of the Year Award from the United Spinal Association (2021 ).

If someone experienced a devastating injury, Natalie wants them to understand, no matter just how much or little function they get back, they can still live and genuinely thrive.

" We all could be confronted with a disastrous injury or diagnosis. There are numerous various things that can happen that could trigger you to have some sort of movement concern at some time in your life," Natalie said. "I want to reveal individuals that you can do anything regardless of your injury. Even if we're in a chair now, does not suggest that we're restricted.".



She will never ever walk again or have complete use of her hands, Natalie isn't bound to her chair. Day by day she forges ahead, living her life to the fullest.

" Having watched her live through this injury and how she's stood firm and the challenges that she faced and how she's overcome them and never ever let them stop her, to me, that just makes her amazing," Mary Lynn stated.

" At 24 years of ages, if you would have said like, ‘‘ Natalie, sooner or later you're gon na be doing a recovery center and getting married,' you understand… … It's crazy," Natalie said. "I understand that it would have been simple to just quit. That would have been the much easier road. I'm pleased. I'm really, actually delighted in my life and I never believed I 'd enjoy once again.".

Natalie's goal is to grow Motion Project into something above and beyond-- a center of quality for Western New York where people can take a trip to from all over.

" Yes, I am a clinician by background however we're a family that began this. We're a group of individuals that have actually lived this," Natalie stated. "This will bring awareness to, truly, the work that we are attempting to do here for Western York and the people here.".

Tune into News 4 at 4 every Wednesday throughout the month of March to see a profile of one woman in Western New York who sticks out. The winner of this year's Remarkable Women project will be revealed Wednesday, March 29.

Jordan Norkus is an acclaimed anchor who has actually become part of the News 4 group since 2021. See more of her work here or follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.