High School Senior with Cerebral Palsy Walks for First Time at Graduation

Every high school student dreams of graduation day, but Okmulgee, Oklahoma graduate Micah McDade’s dreams were bigger than most. Micah wanted to walk, for the first time, across the stage at Harmon Stadium to get his diploma from Okmulgee High School.

Born with cerebral palsy, Micah has used a wheelchair all of his life and has survived numerous surgeries and hours of physical therapy in the hopes that one day he could walk. Three years before graduation, he started working on this plan. Just last summer, he had muscle reconstructive surgery, leaving him only 5 months to train after he recovered in December. 

But Micah was determined. He kept his plans to walk a secret from his classmates, training with his physical therapist and a walker for his big day.

On May 20, 2016, Micah was pushed in his wheelchair up to the stage and he shocked everyone when he stepped onto the stage. With the help of a walker, he achieved his dreams of walking to get his diploma. The crowd erupted into cheers and a standing ovation for Micah and his parents, Mark and Anisa McDade.

“I wasn’t nervous, but my adrenaline was pumping. I just focused on walking,” Micah told the Okmulgee News Network afterward. 

As Micah was settling back into his wheelchair after his big moment, the graduation announcer said, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’ve been doing this a long time. That is the best ever!”

We couldn’t agree more.