Paralyzed High School Track Star Defies Odds And Runs 5K And Is Also Crowned Homecoming King

Oct 23, 2019 by apost team

A paralyzed teenager has defied the predictions of his doctors and completed a 5K race.

Caleb Freeman, a high school student in Oklahoma, is a former track star who used to be known as one of the fastest runners on the team. He was a fit, well-trained athlete with a bright future in cross-country racing.

Then he was in a devastating car crash.

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A semi directly struck his vehicle and knocked him unconscious. According to doctors as cited by KFOR News, his brain was "scrambled in his skull." He spent weeks in a coma, and doctors weren't sure that he would ever wake up. But Caleb's family didn't give up. 

"We're going to get a miracle," Caleb's mom said to KFOR News. "I believe that." 

They made the decision to airlift Caleb to a specialized hospital in another state, and after a few more weeks of treatment and worry, the teenager stunned everyone by opening his eyes. He wasn't out of the woods right away. It took him months just to write his name again, and he had to undergo intense physical and psychological therapy to deal with the repercussions of the crash.

Most notably, the former track star wasn't able to walk. He was paralyzed. The doctors said that he would never regain full mobility again. But Caleb wasn't having that.

He went from a wheelchair to a walker in record time. The next step was learning to walk on his own without the help of assistive technology.

By the time that the Carl Albert Titan Cross-Country Invitational rolled around, Caleb was jogging again, and he was determined to participate in the race. He knew that he would be the last one to finish. The winner had a time of 17 minutes; Caleb took that long just to complete his first mile.

But the finish line beckoned him. The cheering crowd knew his story, so they went wild for every mile, and other racers even doubled back to run alongside him and show their support. Caleb finished the 5K in 51 minutes.

"This time last year, he was in a wheelchair," his father said to KFOR News. "Here we are a year later. Imagine where he'll be in another year. It's incredible."

Caleb was also crowned homecoming king by all of his classmates according to CNN. 

What do you think of Caleb's story? Could you even imagine being in an accident like that? Could you summon the strength and willpower to achieve what he achieved? Let us know in the comments.