Imagine spending nearly three decades without experiencing something that once felt so natural, so automatic. That was Robert Haliburton’s reality—a man whose life was upended when a shocking accident at 43 resulted in the loss of his ability to get an erection, a deeply personal and often invisible struggle he carried for almost 27 years.
Today, Robert, 70, looks back on his harrowing yet ultimately bittersweet path to reclaiming a part of himself he thought he’d lost forever. What makes this story all the more poignant is his heartbreaking confession of devotion to his late wife, Deanna, who supported him throughout his darkest days but tragically passed away before he experienced this unforeseen milestone.
From Tragedy to Triumph—A Lifetime Changed in Seconds
Let’s rewind to 1997. Robert was like any other man his age—hardworking, active, and living the American dream with his beloved wife. But one fateful day, while working on the roof of his house, his life took a sharp turn. A misstep sent him plummeting to the ground below. The result? Two fractured vertebrae and months of excruciating pain.
“It didn’t paralyze me, thank God,” Robert shared, “but I couldn’t do anything. I needed help with everything—walking, eating, even going to the bathroom.” For 14 months, his world revolved around recovery, but the aftershocks of this accident went beyond physical trauma.
S*xual intimacy, something he once shared with his wife effortlessly, became not just difficult but impossible. And though the recovery process eventually allowed him to regain basic mobility, something more private—and more painful—persisted.
Erectile dysfunction crept into Robert’s life, a condition he describes as “devastating” and “discouraging.” “At first, I didn’t even think about it because the pain was all I could feel,” he admitted. “But when I finally started to heal physically, I realized I couldn’t perform in a way I used to. It crushed me.”
A Downward Spiral of Health Complications
Robert’s struggles didn’t stop there. Just two years after his life-changing accident, he was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism, a condition known to suppress libido and disrupt s*xual function—an additional hurdle in a battle that already felt impossible to win.
“I tried Viagra when it first came out, and I had high hopes,” says Robert. “It worked initially, but over time, the effects just faded. That’s when I tried Trimix [a penile injection], thinking it might be the miracle I needed. It wasn’t,” he confessed. The treatment left him in immense pain with little payoff, adding to his frustration and hopelessness.
The Breakthrough Moment He Never Expected
Fast forward to 2023. It was just another quiet night at home when Robert decided to stream the Netflix adaptation of Lady Chatterley’s Lover, starring Emma Corrin and Jack O’Connell. What came next was something he hadn’t felt in nearly three decades—a spontaneous erection.
“To say I was shocked would be an understatement,” Robert revealed. But this wasn’t just a fluke. His ability to get an erection, something that had eluded him for 27 years, was thanks to a powerful new radio frequency device called Vertica, which he credits for jump-starting his body’s natural responses.
The significance of this moment wasn’t lost on Robert, who described it as both thrilling and bittersweet. “I couldn’t help but think of Deanna,” he admitted, his voice cracking. “She was always my biggest support system, and she never made me feel like less of a man, even when I felt like one.”
Love That Defies Time and Loss
Deanna, Robert’s wife of nearly 50 years, passed away in 2021 after battling early-onset Alzheimer’s. Her absence casts a long shadow over what should have been a joyful breakthrough. “When you’re younger, you never imagine you might outlive your partner by so many years,” Robert shared with The Metro.
“I think about her every day. I still feel her presence, like she’s guiding me through life even now,” he added. Deanna was Robert’s rock, his unwavering source of strength through all of life’s trials, and losing her has left a void no medical advancement can fill.
Despite his newfound ability, Robert made it clear he has no desire to pursue another romantic relationship. “Deanna was the love of my life. No one could ever fill her shoes,” he admitted to The Sun. A devoted husband to the end, his respect and loyalty to his late wife remain steadfast.
A New Chapter, a Lingering Ache
While Robert’s story is one of resilience and rediscovery, it’s also a testament to the complexities of life, love, and loss. His words offer a window into a world many would rather shy away from discussing, but his honesty is a reminder that everyone carries their own invisible battles.
For Robert, the future is less about finding new love and more about cherishing the memories of a life lived fully with Deanna. “I’m doing good,” he says softly. “But I’ll never stop missing her.”
Though his erectile dysfunction is now a thing of the past, it’s the emotional scars left behind that paint the fuller picture of this extraordinary man’s life. And while some may view his story as one of medical triumph, it’s also a poignant reminder of the enduring power of love—the kind that doesn’t fade, even when faced with life’s greatest challenges.
