SAN ANTONIO – Woman reunites with paramedic who saved her life years earlier
It was an accident that changed her life forever.
Laura Dominguez-Tauer said she still remembers July 9, 2001, the day she lost the use of her legs.
"My brother and I were driving down (Highway) 281, and right in front of the Quarry, there was an oil spill in the road that we didn't see," Tauer said. "The oil got on all four of our tires, and the car started swerving and spinning."
She was a 16-year-old high school student at the time. Tauer said she also remembers the San Antonio Fire Department paramedic who saved her.
"I heard Mr. Laws talking to other people that were there," she said. "And then I saw his face."
Years later, Tauer found Phil Laws, the paramedic who saved her, on Facebook and messaged him.
"I was thrilled to hear from her," Laws said. "I've probably had thousands of runs since that time and you always wonder what happened."
Tauer lost her ability to walk and wanted to help others facing similar challenges, so she opened Beyond the Chair, a gym for people with neurological disabilities.
"We're going to take it a step further than your traditional (physical therapy) would," Tauer said. "And every client that comes in here, they are out of their wheelchair for their entire session. We have them walking. We have them standing, doing stuff they were told they would never do."
"We get people in here, rolling in wheelchairs, and next thing you know, we get them up in walkers," said Nito Blochlinger, co-founder of Beyond the Chair. "And it just does wonders for their confidence. Just to see them get stronger and live more independently, it's amazing."
Tauer had stem cell surgery in 2003 and got some feeling back in her legs, but this week is the first time Laws got to see her walk.
He said it makes him very proud.
"From overcoming everything that was handed to her and moving on, she made it a goal to help more people," Laws said.
Beyond the Chair has been around for about five years and both Tauer and Blochlinger are working to expand. They are also raising money for scholarships for their clients, with the first big fundraiser coming up in May.