POLAND — With determination and persistence, the Rev. Walter “Wally” Webb is able to stand on his feet and hold onto his walker.

It is something he hasn’t been able to do since a debilitating car accident on Dec. 21, 2011, on Route 119 in West Minot that left him with full paralysis of his arms and legs.

Since then, he has been working to get back on his feet, literally. Last year, he regained the use of his arms and was strengthening his grip. By Dec. 31, 2012, he was using his laptop while he sat in bed.

This year, he has progressed, with the help of his therapist, to being able to stand with his walker for short periods. He is gaining more strength each day, he said.

“My physical therapist knows what he is doing, and he does it well.”

Webb, 76, a co-pastor at Minot United Methodist Church in Minot, still makes it to the pulpit. He preaches from his wheelchair. He has a two-week-off, two-week-on arrangement with the Rev. Evie Starbird.

People from the congregation help get Webb into his handicapped van and drive him to the church, said his wife, Kay Webb. She is the pastor of Eaton Memorial United Methodist Church in Livermore Falls. The two have served at several churches around the state.

Wally Webb recently demonstrated just how strong his legs have become.

He lifted one leg off his bed, put it down and repeated the process with the other one. His left leg is weaker than the right, his wife said.

He worked his way to sit on the edge of the bed and then, with help from Kay and Nancy Beliveau from Helping Hands, he stood, holding his walker for a few minutes, and then sat back down.

“Just a couple of months ago, he couldn’t get up on his feet at all,” Kay said.

His arms and hands have also gotten stronger.

“I can read a newspaper,” Wally said, which he couldn’t hold last year.

He has been determined to be up and about from the beginning, Kay said.

“I just want to do my own stuff again,” her husband said. “I think it is coming along very well, as least as fast as I had hoped.”

His goal for the coming year is to be able to get out of his bed and into his electric wheelchair by himself.

“Things keep looking up, and I’ve got lots of good help,” he said.

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Revisiting the top stories of 2013

The Sun Journal staff writers and photographers have updated the top stories in our communities.