Officer Ronny Cortez was in pursuit of a robbery suspect when chaos and violence shattered his life forever.

“I was on patrol in Houston when I heard my street address on the radio - someone was kicking in doors in our neighborhood. I called my wife to warn her, and she said someone was trying to break in our house. I contacted my unit for back up and one suspect was located in a backyard shed just two doors down from my home.”

When Ronny went in to make the arrest, the suspect started firing.

“I was struck and immediately paralyzed. He continued to fire his gun at me at close range inside the shed, and I was unable to move or defend myself.”

Ronny was rushed to the ICU where doctors fought to save him from bleeding out. He recovered enough to be transferred to rehabilitation but took a turn for the worse when he suffered a severe stroke.

Ronny remained in rehab for 9 long months.

“Being paralyzed is like learning about your body all over again. When I first came into the Emergency Room, a young doctor told my wife and me, ‘the way he came in is the way he is going out.’ I decided to use that comment to fight every day to prove him wrong. I saw fellow officers who had been told that they would never walk again actually walk, and they helped me understand that every person is different, and that our future and how we live our lives us up to us.”

Today, Ronny and his family continue to look for ways to stay positive about their situation. “My life now is a constant learning experience. It’s a daily battle to not allow the forces of evil to get into my head and make me feel bad about my injury.”

More than anything, Ronny strives to be a pillar of strength for his family. “The one thing that drives me is the love for my family. I may not ever walk again but, I can certainly be a good role model, especially to my son who just graduated the Houston Police Academy and is now working the streets of Houston as a patrol officer.”

But even a positive attitude cannot make a home accessible.

“My home is as accessible as I could hope, and we do the best we can. I have learned to adjust to my surroundings. I wish I could do more on my own and be more independent. My wife has to do things she should never have to do as a wife. I am learning to do these things more on my own.”

“The biggest thing I have learned about life is that money doesn’t buy happiness, and that there is always someone who is worse off than yourself. The best advice I can give to others is not to be too hard on yourself, it’s ok to have a bad day. Don’t focus on what you don’t have, focus on what you do have.

There is always something that we can still give of ourselves to make a better life, for ourselves, our family and maybe for someone else out there who needs support. I joined the police department because I always had a commitment to service. The most rewarding thing I have been able to do is supply a safety blanket over the community that I served.”