Bride with MS Walks Down Aisle After 2 Years in Wheelchair

When Amber McConkey took her first step down the aisle on April 25, most of her 125 wedding guests gasped in disbelief.

The 38-year-old Colorado bride had spent the last two years in a wheelchair after multiple sclerosis progressively took away her ability to walk. But walking down the aisle wasn't optional for her wedding day.

"To me, walking down the aisle is just a huge part of becoming a wife and getting married, and I'm very stubborn," McConkey told PEOPLE. "We have three kids as well. I want to show them that they can do anything."

McConkey was diagnosed with MS in 2015, a chronic autoimmune disorder that disrupts communication between the brain and body. Over the years, the disease gradually weakened her mobility until she could no longer walk independently.

In January, she started working with a functional electrical stimulation device that electrically stimulates nerves and muscles to improve movement. By February, she was seeing her physical therapist twice a week.

The venue at Pinecrest Weddings and Event Center in Palmer Lake had measured the exact distance: 68 feet. Her therapist mapped out the same length on the ground so McConkey could practice walking it over and over.

"Once there were a few times that I had made the 68 feet, they were like, 'Let's wear you out a little bit because it's your wedding day, you're going to get worn out,'" she explains. They made sure she could complete the walk even when exhausted.

Only McConkey's husband-to-be Brandon Goodrich, their parents, the wedding party, and a few vendors knew about the plan. Everyone else would be completely surprised.

As "Tangled Up in You" by Aaron Lewis played, McConkey made her grand entrance, supported by her father and brother on each side. With every step, tears filled the room.

"You can't predict the emotions you're going to have—the excitement, the adrenaline, everything," she says. "It's not the prettiest thing ever, but it was perfect for me, and I did it, and that's all that matters."

Why This Inspires

McConkey's walk wasn't just about a wedding tradition. It was about showing her three children that obstacles don't define limits, and that determination can move mountains, one step at a time.

She continues physical therapy and hopes her story will inspire others living with MS to pursue their goals without giving up.