Chris Norton and family "overwhelmed" by support from Decorah and Luther College

It was a little over seven weeks ago that Luther College football player Chris Norton sustained a serious injury in the game against Central College.  He was taken to St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester after suffering a neck and spinal cord injury.  Doctors at first feared Chris would be paralyzed for life.  But he has been moving his wrists, hands, fingers, arms and legs and over the weekend wiggled the toes of both feet for the first time.

The progress has Chris looking forward to returning to the Luther college campus.  He tells decorahnews.com he just wants to hang out with his friends and wouldn't even mind doing some homework.

Chris also wants to return to campus to thank the people of Decorah and Luther College for the support they have shown him in the last two months.  "It's really unbelievable," he says, noting that he had no idea so many people would respond with their prayers and offers of assistance.

Chris' mother, Deb Norton, says the response from Decorah and Luther college has been "absolutely overwhelming."  Luther college alumni from all over the country have been contacting the Nortons with offers of help.  One Rochester alumni even offered the use of his house to the family.

Deb Norton says she has been particularly touched by the help of people the family doesn't know and probably will never meet.  She says many strangers have gone out of their way to help the family, even though they have no connection to the Nortons.  After seeing the outpouring of support for her son, she says simply, "you can't be cynical."