PHILADELPHIA (WWJ) -- A Michigan State University shooting survivor attended his very first NBA playoff game as a special guest of Philadelphia 76ers star guard James Harden.
John Hao was one of five victims who were hospitalized after February's mass shooting on the East Lansing campus. The 20-year-old international student from China suffered a severed spinal cord and lung damage that left him paralyzed from the chest down.
Following the shooting, Harden learned that Hao was a fan of his and reached out to offer comfort and encouragement.
The Associated Press reports that the two spoke over FaceTime and developed a friendship, with Harden promising to host the Hao family at a 76ers game once John was out of the hospital.
True to his word, Harden secured a club box at Wells Fargo Center for the Hao family to watch Philadelphia play the Boston Celtics in Game 4 of the NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals.
Harden scored a three-pointer in overtime that brought the 76ers to victory, later saying that Hao had brought him "good vibes" and "good energy."
[shortcode-inline-related expand="1" link="/wwjnewsradio/news/local/survivor-of-msu-shooting-paralyzed-fundraiser-raises-350k" headline="Survivor of MSU mass shooting paralyzed, fundraiser raises 350k+: "We can let him know love in this world is beyond physical"" image="/media-library/image.png?id=64522980"]Afterwards, Harden brought Hao and his family onto the court and gifted the student his autographed sneakers from the game.
Hao has said that Harden taught him to keep strong.
"When I got injured, [Harden] read the news about that, he just came to give us all the support we need," he told the AP. "I'm so appreciative of that."
Hao recently left a rehabilitation center in Chicago and told AP that he still needs additional treatment. The brave young man is determined to graduate from MSU but is also considering moving back to China to be with his parents.
"I hope to get back to my normal life and rehab as soon as possible," he said.
All five surviving victims of the MSU shooting have been released from the hospital. The three students who died in the tragedy -- Arielle Anderson, Brian Fraser and Alexandria Verner -- were awarded degrees posthumously during last weekend's commencement ceremony.
