Teen With Cerebral Palsy Walks For The First Time For Graduation — The Crowd’s Reaction Is Amazing [Video]


An Oklahoma high school teenager named Micah McDade spent his whole life confined to a wheelchair due to cerebral palsy. But when it came time for him to graduate, Micah decided he was going to make the walk to get his diploma, no matter what it took. And that’s exactly what happens in a video shared by the local Okmulgee News Network’s Facebook page.

The moment took place on Friday at Okmulgee High School in Oklahoma. According to WGNTV, the video of Micah McDade leaving his wheelchair to walk for the very first time is going viral, so far amassing more than 240,000 views and more than 4,000 shares on Facebook. You can see the inspirational clip of Micah overcoming his cerebral palsy at the top of the page.

McDade had been secretly working to build up his strength in the months leading up to graduation. He shocked his classmates by getting out of his wheelchair and receiving his diploma with the assistance of a walker. In the video, you can hear the audience of parents and peers erupting with applause when Micah McDade finally takes his first steps. The camera then pans to show that the crowd is giving Micah a standing ovation.

Teen with cerebral palsy walks
Micah McDade. [Photo via Facebook]
As McDade is helped back into his wheelchair, the graduation announcer can’t help but express his emotions.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve been doing this a long time. That is the best ever!”

According to the Daily Mail, Micah’s parents, Mark and Anisa McDade, were equally excited for the teen, saying that they “couldn’t be prouder” of him.

“Micah has had cerebral palsy since birth,” says the description on the Facebook page. “He has had countless surgeries and much rehabilitation, and has been working his whole life to be able to walk.”

According to Cerebral Palsy.org,cerebral palsy is the general term that medical community uses to identify a group of neurological disorders that affect a person’s ability to move. It is considered a life-long brain injury or malformation that happens during the child’s development and is “non-progressive,” meaning the condition does not get worse with time. And, as Micah McDade has shown, hard work and physical therapy can actually help a person with cerebral palsy get a little bit better — or at least increase mobility.

Everybody at Okmulgee High School was aware of Micah’s cerebral palsy and had ever seen him out of his wheelchair even once. They had no idea that he was planning to literally walk for graduation. The video is not only heartwarming for the teen’s triumphant moment, but also the amount of love and support his classmates showed him.

But it wasn’t only the parents, teachers and students who were happy for Micah McDade. Nearly one thousand strangers from across the world congratulated the teen for persevering through his cerebral palsy in the comments of the Facebook video.

“I’m so happy for him!!! Congratulations!!!” said one comment.

“God Bless him, he is courageous, and has struggled his whole life, but made it and praying he has a bright long future! Micah you will succeed!” said another.

“Your determination is exponential and your will power is motivating. You are now ‘The Big Engine That DID’ May you continue thru life with the same determination.”

How did it make you feel to see a teenager with cerebral palsy walk for the first time? Leave a comment below with your thoughts about Micah McDade.

For another inspirational viral video, watch a clip of a young women with down syndrome getting accepted into college.

[Photos via Micah McDade/Facebook]

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