Christian Mayberry Will Graduate with Classmates on Friday

Christian Mayberry, who continues rehabilitation at the Florida Institute for Neurologic Rehabilitation or FINR, will graduate with his Muldrow High School classmates on Friday. The Muldrow High School graduation will be held in the school gym at 7 p.m. but Christian will hold his graduation ceremony and celebration in Florida.

Christian is a long way from that Muldrow graduation ceremony, in several physical ways. Not only is he now in Florida, he is still rehabilitating from an ATV wreck on Sept. 1, 2013, that left him with severe brain trauma. But his mother, Kim, is not going to let that stand in his way.

She extended an invitation this week for all friends and relatives. "I want to invite you to Christian's graduation party we are having for him this Friday night. Yep, you read that right! Bless his heart, he wants to graduate so bad so I've decided he is graduating! The principal (Steve Page) is sending him a cap and gown. There will be an empty chair there in his honor and they will call his name and show his picture in the cap and gown."

Those who can't attend Christian's graduation party are invited to send him congratulations to 1962 Vandolah Rd., Wauchala, FL 33873.

Muldrow High School Principal Steve Page said plans are to put out a chair that will be designated for Christian, and his name will be read during the graduation ceremony. "He will have a seat and we will call his name," Page said. "He's improved a lot, and we hope he continues to improve."

Christian's improvements continued this week. His mother reports he set a new walking record. "He had walked 825 feet. On Monday he walked over 1,800 feet, breaking his record by 1,000 feet." Kim Mayberry said an ophthalmologist, who is a low-vision specialist, also had good news. New glasses are improving Christian's eyesight, and will continue to do so, the doctor predicted.

Kim said about her son and his feelings about high school graduation, "He is so excited. He keeps saying he's never been so excited in all his life."

Kim explained that, before his graduation plans were made, Christian was "really sad and depressed about graduation. It's really been getting to him. Of course he will get his GED eventually."

When plans were made for Christian to participate in graduation, his attitude changed. "It doesn't take a lot to make him really, really happy," Kim said.

Kim concluded, "For anyone here in Florida, please come help him get through what would have been a very sad night but instead is going to be a great night! If there is any way you can come, we would love to have you." The party will be at FINR in Dogwood at 6 p.m. Friday.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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