Pavel and Kat found love and got married on “La Isla Bonita” in Belize.

On their way to a holiday party in Dec 2015 their vehicle malfunctioned, flipped and rolled over multiple times.

Kat was paralyzed instantly from the shoulders down and Pavel broke his neck and skull.

“Kat saved us,” says Pavel. “I was in shock with tunnel vision”.

Kat, hanging upside down paralyzed with her tibia sticking out of her leg, said, “Pavel, go get help.” She must have said it 10 times. Her training really came into play.” “If she hadn’t said that, there wouldn’t have been help and I don’t think we would have been here,” says Pavel.

“I can shrug my shoulders and move my head and neck, but I haven’t regained any mobility,” said Portillo, who used to participate in marathons, triathlons and bodybuilding competitions.

Doctors told the couple they were lucky to be alive. After months of physical rehabilitation, Ythjall has almost fully recovered. Portillo, now a quadriplegic, requires 24/7 at-home care from a nurse who helps with everything from brushing her teeth and eating to moving her body to avoid developing bed sores.