Single Dad Raises Twins Alone after Becoming Paralyzed and Not Being Able to Find Lasting Love

After almost losing his life in an unexpected incident, a single man wished to have children. He was wheelchair-bound and had no woman in his life when his wish finally came true in a way he had never thought about.

Terry Pavlou's life turned upside down after encountering a terrifying accident while renovating a house with his father and brothers in 2005.

At that time, he was a 29-year-old man who had never imagined spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair. He had no idea how his life would change because of one unexpected incident.

Despite being in a wheelchair and having no luck finding a life partner, Pavlou was determined to become a father. He wanted to have children despite knowing it would take him years before finding a woman to share his children with.

Defying all odds, Pavlou saw his dream come true when he held his twins in his arms for the first time. He had become a single dad of two at 40―something that seemed impossible to him a few years ago.

The Day Everything Changed

When Pavlou, a cabinet maker, went to work on July 12, 2005, he didn't know that was the last time he would walk on his feet. He was working on a property in Adelaide, Australia when he found himself buried under a heavy pile of rubble.

It turned out that one of the house's walls collapsed during renovation, trapping the then-29-year-old man under it. While still stuck under the rubble, Pavlou had no idea that the accident had caused irreversible damage to his body. He recalled:

"When I was buried, I couldn't breathe because my lungs were ruptured."

While Pavlou considered his injury similar to being smacked by a baseball bat, the doctors who later treated him in the hospital said he "should have been dead after ten minutes."

While in rehab, Pavlou realized he needed to become a father.

Pavlou's brothers and father had pulled him out of the rubble before the first responders arrived. They could tell the accident had damaged Pavlou's spinal cord, but they didn't tell him anything. Only after he opened his eyes in the hospital room, he learned he couldn't walk anymore.

Pavlou confessed the accident "changed everything." At that point in his life, he was all set to start a business, find a partner and have children, but fate had other plans.

Besides losing his ability to walk, the accident ruptured the biggest artery in his body, the aorta, significantly decreasing his chances of survival.

Life after the Accident

The accident forced him to stay in the hospital for six months while the doctors treated his multiple injuries. During this time, Pavlou underwent a multitude of emotions because it was difficult for him to accept that he couldn't walk anymore.

Once he was ready for rehab, Pavlou left the hospital with a second chance at life. He joined recovery and later gave sports a try on a coach's recommendation.

While in rehab, Pavlou realized he needed to become a father. He wanted to have children, but the thought of finding a partner for that purpose didn't sound too well. He didn't want to "wait to find love."

The young man was ready to do anything to fulfill his dream of starting a family. He wished to hold his babies in his arms and tell the world that he was their father, unaware that the solution to his problem was right around the corner.

After experiencing a breakup and wondering about his life during rehab, Pavlou decided to become a single father through surrogacy. However, there was still a long way to go before he could hold his babies.

While learning about surrogacy, Pavlou stumbled across an Adelaide group that told him about this one clinic in Thailand. Following his heart, Pavlou contacted the clinic and found himself thousands of miles away from his country a few months later.

The IVF process began, and the clinic called him a few weeks later with good news. The process had formed two embryos, and a woman had agreed to be the surrogate mother. He recounted:

"I was so happy, excited at the possibility of not one child but to be blessed with twins. [sic]"

Having his parents by his side, Pavlou was excited to welcome his twins into this world. He had to wait for 36 weeks, which felt like an eternity, before meeting his children for the first time.

On March 27, 2015, Pavlo became a father of twins at 40. He had finally turned his dream into reality and was excited to spend the rest of his life raising his babies. He confessed:

"I didn't believe in love at first sight until I met these guys here."

A Proud Father of Twins

Pavlou loves spending time with his babies, Angel and Nicos. Despite his disability, he manages to care for them and feels they have adapted to his physical limitations.

What made Pavlou happiest was when he heard his children call him "Daddy" because he had always wished to become a father one day.

Now 8, the twins have grown up to become beautiful children. Pavlou said they had been helping around the house since they were four and understood their father was restricted to a wheelchair.

The proud father posted a photo of his twins on the first day of school. He also shared that they had bought a farm where they enjoyed spending time.

The twins enjoy playing with their dad at home because he allows them to jump on beds and run around the house. However, spending time with their father isn't all about having fun. Pavlo revealed how his children learned new things while seeing their father in a wheelchair:

"Being a dad in a wheelchair has taught my children to be more independent for their age and to be more caring, I think."

Raising twins despite having physical limitations has taught Pavlou a lot of things. When asked what parenting advice he would give, the dad of two said all children need is love, care, and attention.

He agreed that not being able to participate in physical activities with them doesn't affect their bond. It's the love and emotional connection that keeps their relationship strong.

Click here to read another story about a single dad of conjoined twins who has to choose between saving one girl with separation surgery or losing both.