Colorado Springs senior graduates after spinal cord injury

It’s been a long journey for Discovery Canyon High School senior Jake Heinen. After a car accident left him with a spinal cord injury, he vowed to not let anything get between him and graduation.

A gown, cap and a hug full of love and support were all small parts that went into preparing for the inspirational moment. It’s one that the 18-year-old almost didn’t get the chance to have.

“It’s been a long, kind of sad journey with the events that occurred in my four years of high school,” he said.

Now sitting next to his siblings, he thinks back on the car accident that left him in a wheelchair.

“I kind of blanked out and then I started shaking and tensing up and my friend took the wheel and tried to guide the Jeep while my foot was on the gas,” Heinen said.

As if overcoming that life-changing moment wasn’t enough, his extensive rehab caused him to fall behind on school credits. That left him wondering if he’d be able to graduate on time.

But thanks to Laura Magnuson, M.Ed., the hospital’s full-time teacher, Heinen was able to get back on track.

“Jake’s determination is amazing, it would have been easy for him just to sink beside himself,” she said.

Thursday marks the day Heinen gets to complete one of his biggest goals: making his way across the stage to his diploma.

“It makes me happy that I have people that are proud and to see me walk up there and to grab that piece of paper that I’ve worked so hard for,” said Heinen.

And he did it all with a smile on his face knowing he beat the odds.