SA STRONG: Local spine surgeon inspires others to not give up

SAN ANTONIO – From friends and close relatives in and out of prison, to the war in Iraq - Dr. Antonio Webb’s story of Overcoming the Odds, is inspiring others to not give up.

He was born and raised in Shreveport, Louisiana. A tough upbringing Webb said he was trying to escape from.

“A little brother did time in prison, little sister, and that kind of list goes on. My mom who was on and off drugs my whole life, and in and out of jail.”

His mother was left paralyzed from the waist down after being shot.

“I knew that if I stayed in that environment that I would have ended up either dead or in jail,” said Webb.

It was the moment Webb saw his little brother, Jonathan, in an orange jumpsuit that changed everything.

“it was difficult. I shed a few tears because I couldn't touch him. It was probably one of the most challenging times of my life, just seeing someone that (you) love so dearly, behind prison walls and kind of caught up in the system,” explained Webb.

At 17, he joined the military.

“The military really caused me to be a better person more discipline.

Webb spent eight years in the Air Force and went to Iraq in 2005 as a medic. He credits a magnet program in high school as the inspiration behind his dream of going to medical school.

“I didn't know any Black doctors growing up. Never had I saw one and never had I met one. It wasn't until that program that I envisioned my life outside of Shreveport.”

His dream of becoming a doctor, now a reality.

“You have to number one, put God first. Number two, never give up. That’s been my whole philosophy. The whole point of my life is just to inspire others,” said Webb.

The orthopedic spine surgeon has been living in San Antonio for nearly two decades and is a mentor to many.

“The gratification and the satisfaction that you get from helping patients when they're at their lowest,” added Webb.

The San Antonio doctor now sharing his story in his book and documentary Overcoming the Odds.

“Perseverance to just keep pushing no matter what the circumstance.”

He is also a motivational speaker across the country.

“I essentially wrote the book to show a kid from a similar environment as mine - someone who may be going through a rough time or challenge in their life, a similar family history, that, you know, it's possible to be successful.”

It’s success Webb said took persistence and hard work, even during some of his toughest moments.

“One of my favorite quotes from one of my professors in medical school - he said stated that failure is not in the falling down, it's in the failure to get back up and try again. And throughout my whole life, that's exactly what I did,” added Webb.

Last year, Webb was named a top 20 under 40 spinal surgeon by the North American Spine Society.

Full article here: https://foxsanantonio.com/news/local/sa-strong-local-spine-surgeon-inspires-others-to-not-give-up

Watch the documentary here: https://youtu.be/0M845B8JctU

Purchase the book here: https://amzn.to/3gsjcDj

Видео SA STRONG: Local spine surgeon inspires others to not give up канала Antonio J. Webb, M.D.