A Paoli Hospital EMT has overcome insurmountable odds, but now he’s on the path to becoming a doctor. Fox Ryker was nonverbal until he was four-years old, and doctors didn’t believe he was ever going to live an independent life, writes Stephanie Stahl for CBS Philadelphia.  

“I had a lot of people in my life who doubted my ability to empathize or to work in a team under high-stress situations,” he said. 

Ryker is on the autistim spectrum, which impacts individuals’ ability to communicate with others.  

“He is going to be an amazing physician,” said Dr. Stuart Brilliant. “He’s going to be able to make patients’ lives better and to give hope to a lot of people that might not have a lot of hope.” 

Ryker’s hard work has paid off and his dreams are on the horizon. He has been accepted to medical school at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. 

Read more about Fox Ryker on CBS Philadelphia.