TRUSSVILLE, AL (WBRC) -
It's a walk nearly 300 Hewitt-Trussville High seniors have waited years to experience. And it's one Jamison Franklin may have missed.
Last year, the 17-year-old was paralyzed from the neck down after flipping his SUV.
In the beginning, graduating with his senior class was the last thing from his family's mind. Keeping him alive was their top priority.
"We woke up one morning in October and we couldn't find a pulse and it was horrible and we thought this is it. We're going to lose our son," said Jamison's Mom, Holly.
Jamison would come close to death four times in the last year. But his family says it's his stubbornness that pulled him through.
Unfortunately, his spirit couldn't control his health. He tried going back to school, but that only lasted about a week and a half.
"He just couldn't handle the ride. It would make him literally vomit. So he would go to school sick, throwing up or what not. They would bring him home early," said Jamison's Dad, Chuck.
From then on, Jamison would be home-schooled. At times, his family wondering if he would finish in time to graduate with his class.
"When we started schooling at home I really was worried about it because one day he would be feeling great and the next day he would be really sick," said Chuck.
Through the ups and the downs, Jamison completed his tasks on time. And though he may not have entered graduation the way he planned, he achieved the same goal.
Before his accident, Jamison was planning to become an electrician. He says after this, he plans to go to college and find a way to work in the same field.
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Jamison Franklin at Hewitt-Trussville's graduation ceremony.
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