American Terry Hannigan Fairline recorded her name in history when she completed the 2019 New York Marathon.
The 65-year-old crossed the finish line on November 3, becoming the first paralyzed American to complete a marathon, using a robotic suit.
"Words cannot describe how I feel as I cross the finish line," Verlaine said in a statement. "It has always been a dream for me.
According to the New York Post, Verlaine worked in Vietnam in her late twenties, and then doctors diagnosed her with sarcoidosis, a rare inflammatory disease associated with the chemicals she was exposed to during her work.
By 2011, she was paralyzed from the chest down, but the following year, Fairline began using a robotic suit developed by Ryoak Robotics, which she later wore during a three-day marathon.
"From the day I first wore the robotic suit, I opened doors that I never realized existed," Fairline said. I practiced well to achieve a great achievement. I am grateful to those who gave me this opportunity to stand and walk again every day. ”