Every morning, Nicolò Franco, 21, of Como, walks into the kitchen, reaches up to a high shelf, takes down a cup, warms some milk and makes himself coffee.

“At lunchtime, too, if I want to cook something, I can lean against the counter, stretch up and grab a pot or a package of pasta by myself,” he says.

They are simple gestures, but they mean an enormous amount to him. Until recently, he could not do them.

On Sept. 12, 2023, when he was 17, a motorcycle accident took away his ability to walk. For three years, he lived in a wheelchair after suffering a complete spinal cord injury at the T8 level. Today, he is back on his feet and can move with a walker.

Nicolò is one of four Italian patients who have regained the ability to walk after a complete thoracic spinal cord injury through a new form of neurostimulation developed by MineLab, a research group created through a collaboration between Vita-Salute San Raffaele University in Milan and the Sant’Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa. The study, led by Pietro Mortini and Silvestro Micera, was published in September 2026 in Med Cell Press.

Nicolò, what happened that day?

“I was riding my motorcycle to practice. I was a professional soccer player. A car parked on the right suddenly turned into my path, hit me and sent me flying into the curb. I always wore protective gear, but it was very hot that evening and I decided not to wear my back protector. It was the first time I had gone without it. After the accident, I was airlifted to Niguarda Hospital in Milan, where I underwent surgery. I spent about six months in the spinal unit, and then I began rehabilitation.”

How do you come to terms with a diagnosis of complete paraplegia at 17?

“At first, I couldn’t even fully understand what had happened to me. I was in a kind of whirlwind. I was surrounded by doctors, and I still thought it was something that would eventually be resolved. Then, as time passed, I realized that my life had been completely turned upside down. My injury was complete: Below the level of the injury, I couldn’t feel or move anything. But my father never stopped looking for a possibility.”

When did hope return?

“In December 2023, I met Professor Mortini. After examining me, he said, ‘Nicolò, I’ll get you back on your feet.’ Those words gave me enormous hope. At that moment, everything looked dark: My plans had been completely turned upside down and basically thrown in the trash. After a series of evaluations and tests, I was admitted to San Raffaele in September 2024 to have the stimulator implanted. That marked the beginning of a long rehabilitation program that continued until February 2025.”

What were those months of rehabilitation like?

“At first, we focused mainly on understanding how my muscles responded to electrical stimulation. Then we started working on standing: first with a standing frame, then at the parallel bars and finally with a walker. At first, I could stand for only a few minutes. My blood pressure would drop, and my muscles would tire quickly because they were no longer used to supporting my weight. Then we moved on to walking and, eventually, stairs. I had it in my head that I wanted to try climbing a few steps.”

What was the most emotional moment?

“When they stood me up at the parallel bars, I thought, ‘Wow, I didn’t remember being this tall!’ For the first time, I was standing on my own legs again. Then came the first steps. When my mom and dad saw me walk for the first time, they burst into tears. It was truly indescribable.”

What does it mean to be able to perform everyday tasks again?

“My home isn’t designed for someone in a wheelchair, and there are a lot of architectural barriers. Now, with the walker, I can lean against the kitchen counter, stand up and get a glass or cook something for myself. They’re ordinary things, but for me they’re huge milestones. Sometimes I even try to climb the stairs by myself. It takes me forever and it’s incredibly tiring, but the satisfaction of doing it is indescribable. It’s nice to be able to say, ‘Today I want to do it myself,’ even if it takes as long as it takes.”

What has changed in your life now?

“I’ve slowly rebuilt my life. I started studying, I never gave up sports and I’ve achieved several goals. I also carried the Paralympic flame in Milan as a torchbearer. I continue to train and work to stay in the best possible shape.”

How do you imagine the future?

“I’m 21, and I have my whole life ahead of me. I’m hopeful and confident about what the future holds for me and for people in my situation. Medicine and science are making huge strides, and very quickly.”

What would you say today to someone who receives a diagnosis like yours?

“I would tell them not to give up and to keep looking ahead. Life can be completely turned upside down, but you can rebuild your independence and find new goals. Medicine and science are making enormous advances: What has been possible for me would have been difficult even to imagine 10 or 15 years ago. It takes commitment, but above all, it takes the support of the people around you — family, friends, doctors and physical therapists. Little by little, you can rebuild your life. I truly believe you can still have a wonderful future.”