A Laurel High School football player, who was paralyzed during a game three years ago had everyone on their feet on Friday during graduation.
Hayden Hamilton stood up from he wheelchair and walked on the track at Laurel to accept his high school diploma.
The Post-Gazette’s Mike White says it was during Hamilton’s first home game his sophomore year when he was paralyzed from the neck down.
The linebacker/defensive end was attempting a tackle when the accident happened, resulting in a serious spinal injury.
While adds he’s the first player in the WPIAL since the 1970s to be paralyzed.
Through hard work, surgeries and therapy, Hamilton walked with help from leg braces and a walker to make the 10-yard walk to get his diploma.
The video of him walking has since gone viral with former Steelers linebacker Ryan Shazier commenting, “Hayden this is amazing man I’m so proud of you.”
Shazier suffered a spinal injury of his own during a game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football.
Since then Shazier has learned to walk again and spends a lot of time helping and encouraging others who are going through the same thing he did.
Shazier officially retired from football last fall.
Hamilton plans to continue his education in the fall, all while working to one day be able to take steps without the help of a walker.