Paralyzed Teen Pursues Dreams, Vows To "Live Life"

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ROYSE CITY (CBSDFW.COM) - A North Texas teen who was paralyzed is not giving up on returning to the life he once lived.

Austin Pille, 19, was a senior at Royse City High School when he took a ride in his friend's new Mustang. He was in the back seat when the driver lost control and wrecked.

"It wasn't until I tried to move that I realized I couldn't," said Austin.

Everyone walked away from the crash except Austin.

Confined to a standard wheelchair for the last two years, Austin received nothing but support from his mother.

"They said that he'd be okay but that he wasn't able to feel anything from the waist down. That was devastating to me," said Angela Pille, his mother.

Click Here For Austin Pille's GoFundMe

His days of football were over. The time he always spent exploring the woods behind his home in Nevada was now impossible.

"You never envision anything like this, it's always going to happen to somebody else," said Austin's father, Dean Pille.

But it was not until Austin spotted a "Trackchair," that he knew his route back outdoors was within reach.

"It's got tracks like a tank does and you can go in snow, mud, dirt -- anywhere," said Austin.

Austin applied for a grant and won $5,000 but he still has a long way to go. He is still in need of about $10,000.

But he already has ideas for his first spin.

"Just find the muddiest mud-hole I can find and just drive through it!" said Austin.

Whether or not he raises enough money, Austin knows his attitude will take him where he needs to go in life.

"I'm going to continue my education. Get a job. Live my life," said Austin. "(I'm) not going to let anything stop me."

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