Paralyzed patients able to stand thanks to breakthrough treatment

A new breakthrough in spinal cord injury research has allowed four men paralyzed from the chest down to stand.

Dustin Shillcox, Kent Stephenson, Andrew Meas and Rob Summers had electrical stimulators implanted in their spines and went from sitting to standing on their own volition.

"To be able to stand when people say you can't, well it's a total game-changer, it's awesome," Shillcox said.

Once the electrical implant was in, with the right voltage, paralyzed test subjects could move their toes and their legs.

But will standing lead to a step and maybe one day even walking? It's too soon to know, but already the men have better bowel, bladder and sexual function.

"The feeling I get every time I stand up is breathtaking. It shows that there's a light at the end of the tunnel," Shillcox said.

The Christopher and Dave Reeve Foundation helped fund the research and is raising $15 million to do the procedure on other patients.