Graduation season is upon us -- and in the midst of all the incredible stories we hear about young people achieving great things, one story about paralyzed high schooler Dallas Dean sticks out above the rest.
Just six months ago, Dallas Dean, a senior at Ellicott High School in Ellicott, Colorado, was just lucky to be alive. Moments after surviving a serious car accident on Calhan Highway back in November, Dallas found himself drifting in and out of consciousness, waiting for help -- and unable to feel his legs. He would later learn that he was paralyzed from the chest down. But on May 21, following multiple surgeries, a grueling recovery, and a two-month stint in rehab at Denver's Craig Hospital, 18-year-old Dallas crossed the platform and received his high school diploma -- in his wheelchair. He even exited the raised platform by descending down the stairs, completely unassisted. [gallery columns="2" size="large" ids="16054,16055"] "I told them I wanted to go down the stairs, and that's what we decided to do, and thankfully I was able to do it," Dallas told KOAA News 5. He had five procedures at Memorial Hospital in the first two weeks after the accident, including surgeries on his sternum and back, The Gazette reported.
"I wasn't awake for five minutes from my surgery when I made my first joke about it," Dallas said. "It was rough, but there was nothing I could do about it."
Dallas went on to spend almost two months in Craig Hospital's new teen rehab program, where he met Laura Magnuson, the hospital's school program coordinator and a teacher there. She was able to help him with his schoolwork and studies so that he could stay on track to graduate.
"He's a very goal-oriented guy, and he had graduating on his mind," said Magnuson, who was on-hand at the graduation ceremony to support and congratulate Dallas.
He eventually returned to Ellicott High School, where he picked up where he'd left off as the class treasurer and as a member of the basketball team, sitting on the bench with the team during games.
Dallas's future plans include studying accounting through the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs' online program in the fall.
I don't want to be part of the statistic that on average people only work two to three years after they've been injured and then live off the government ... I want to make as much as I can in the world."
He hasn't given up on walking again either. He sometimes experiences lower body sensations and knows that whether or not he remains paralyzed will all depend on the healing process. In the meantime, his recovery and accomplishments thus far are still a testament to the strength of the human spirit.
To read more about Dallas, check out the GoFundMe page that was set up to assist him and his family. You can also watch a video to see Dallas's amazing descent from the stage in his wheelchair (a helpful trick he learned in rehab).
(All photos courtesy of The Gazette.)
