Paralyzed Surgeon Continues To Work

Dr. Eugene Alford Is Paralyzed Below The Waist But Does Not Let That Keep Him From His Work

In 2007 Dr. Eugene Alford, a facial plastic surgeon based in Houston, Texas, suffered an accident that should have ended his career. Doing some work on his tractor at his farm in Belleville, TX (his idea of relaxing), the doctor set out to remove a dead oak tree from his property. As he prodded the tree, the trunk split apart and toppled over, crushing Alford against the tractor.

After being transported by helicopter to the same hospital where he had worked for 16 years, work began to repair his extensive injuries: a compression fracture of two vertebrae, six broken ribs, a broken collar bone, a broken scapula, and blocked blood supply to his spine. Alford was left paralyzed below the waist.

Recovery was difficult emotionally, mentally and physically. Dr. Alford spent months and years after his injury relearning to do everyday activities from a wheelchair: brush his teeth, feed his dogs, drive his car, and most recently, perform surgery. Dr. Alford has made great strides in physical therapy and has surprised everyone except for himself with his return to surgery.

Equipped with a special elevated wheel chair, Dr. Alford is able to see patients and perform surgery. While he has always had disability insurance coverage and could have chosen to collect on his policy in full, his determination and decision to return to work was fueled by his rare ability to perform difficult reconstructive surgeries. In 2005, he famously lead a team that reconstructed the face of a domestic violence victim who had been shot by her abusive boyfriend. The entire 17-month procedure was pro bono. "In my heart of hearts, I'm a very skilled surgeon. That's my gift," said Doctor Alford.