RAVENNA Doctors told Lexi Wright’s parents that their daughter would never walk and that she’d likely only survive days after she was born.
On her graduation night, she proved everyone wrong.
The 19-year-old Ravenna High School graduate ditched her wheelchair and, in front of her 190 classmates and to the surprise of her own family, gripped a walker and walked across the stage to accept her diploma Wednesday night. The thundering applause from a standing ovation was as overwhelming for her mom, Dede, as watching her daughter walk for the first time, she said.
Lexi has used a wheelchair her entire life because she has cerebral palsy, a neurological disorder that affects body movement, muscle coordination and balance. Dede said Lexi had to be revived three times at birth. Doctors said there was little hope of survival and she would never walk.
Dede had no idea that her daughter had been working on the graduation surprise.
“I knew nothing about it until they started to move her feet (support) on her wheelchair, then I knew something was happening,” Dede said. “When she received a standing ovation, that melted my heart.”
“I was bawling my eyes out,” Dede said, tearing up remembering the scene. “I couldn’t even cheer her on because I was bawling so much.”
Her father, Terry, said Ravenna High School Intervention Specialist Matthew Altieri told him where Lexi would be wheeled up to the stage so he could have a good vantage point to take a photo.
Ravenna High School Principal Beth Coleman said Lexi practiced all year to be able to surprise her family.
“I was brought to tears when she made it all the way down the ramp,” Coleman said. “Her classmates cheered her the entire way.”
Lexi said she was surprised by the standing ovation. She just wanted to surprise her family and it meant a lot to be able to do that at graduation “because I wanted my family to be proud of me. At first, I was nervous, but then as I walked, I was really happy.”
Dede said she was already proud of her daughter for earning good grades and achieving honor roll throughout high school. She said Lexi has been doing physical therapy all her life in one form or another. Dede said she was unable to work for four years because she was transporting Lexi to and from appointments.
Walking is something Lexi said she will continue to work on.
“I always try to embed in her brain that she can do whatever she wants in life and to not let anyone tell her differently,” Dede said. “I guess what I am saying is, the sky is the limit and for her not to think that because she is disabled that she can’t do what other people do. She is capable of doing whatever she sets her mind to. She has always been a determined girl.”
Lexi said she isn’t sure what is next but she wants to work. She said she used to want to be a doctor but she doesn’t know what she wants to do now. Dede said many have encouraged Lexi to attend college, but Lexi said she wants to work and earn money. For now, she is going to enjoy her graduation and a little vacation.