A former cheerleader who was left paralysed after one failed backflip has spoken out to warn parents of the hidden dangers of the sport.
Laura Jackson was auditioning for her school cheerleading team at just 14 when she tried to perform a back tuck and landed on her head, instantly breaking her neck and being starved of oxygen.
The 33-year-old still relies on 24-hour ventilation and a neck brace to keep her alive after the devastating split-second fall left in 2003.
The marketing professional has dedicated her life to maintaining a positive mindset and hopes her TikTok videos to more than 6,800 followers will inspire other people with disabilities, while warning of the dangers of cheerleading.
In her video clips, Laura explains how she went from dancing with professionals to fighting for her life in a matter of seconds and also shows how she still manages to live life to the full.
Laura, from Northville, Michigan in the US, said: "I had been a cheerleader since I was in the third grade. Three out my four sisters were cheerleaders and it was an important part of our life.
"I went in to do the tumbling portion of try-outs and decided I was going to do a back tuck. I landed on my head.
"I'm not sure exactly what went wrong but the next thing I knew I was on the ground and unable to breathe.
"I remember thinking that I had knocked the wind out of me. I just remember lying there looking up at people mouthing the words 'I can't breathe' over and over.
"Eventually I passed out from lack of oxygen. I was not given CPR until the paramedics came about seven minutes after I broke my neck.
"From there they drove me to the local hospital which airlifted me to the hospital where I stayed for seven months.
"I broke my neck on the Tuesday. By Thursday, my heart had stopped seven times because my bones were pinching my brain stem and they decided to do surgery on Saturday. I was given a 50 per cent chance of survival.
"They told my parents that I was paralysed from the neck down the night I was there."
Laura went through a gruelling 14-hour surgery to save her life, being forced to have a feeding tube fitted that she still uses for liquids 19 years later.
She claims the 'unfathomable' news made it hard for her to see a future - but now she tries to stay positive despite relying on 24-hour care from family and carers at home.
Laura has still managed to live a life full of 'beautiful experiences' and is hoping to show her followers that 'life doesn't stop with paralysis'.
Laura said: "It was devastating and unfathomable to hear that news at 14. I had a hard time imagining what my future and life would and could look like."
Laura has now launched her TikTok channel in the hope of proving life 'can be fun' whether you have a disability or not.
She said: "I definitely try to be a positive person.
"I first started TikTok just for fun and hoped that I could bring a bit of joy to someone's day, but as I told my story I hoped that it would be able to help others facing obstacles and struggle, educate others about the dangers of cheerleading and to show that life can be big and fun, disability or not.
"We all face trials and tribulations in our life and they shape us into the people we are. I wanted to show that life can move forward in powerful ways despite our dark and down obstacles.
"I'm incredibly thankful to have a supportive family and friends. I live with my parents and they stay with me whenever I don't have a nurse or caregiver available.
"I hope to continue speaking with children and adults about disability and my motto 'move your mind' - a decision I made that if I couldn't move anything, I was going to move my mind.
"To try to keep things positive, to set goals and achievements for myself and to be fearlessly me."
