RAVENNA, Ohio — An Ohio teenager who has cerebral palsy and was never expected to be able to walk shocked her family by doing just that at her high school graduation.

The Kent-Ravenna Record-Courier reported 19-year-old Lexi Wright left her wheelchair and used a walker to cross a stage in her cap and gown to accept her diploma at the Ravenna High School ceremony last week.

Lexi Wright leaves her wheelchair and walks across the stage to accept her diploma at Ravenna High School's graduation at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio.
Lexi Wright leaves her wheelchair and walks across the stage to accept her diploma at Ravenna High School's graduation at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio. Kevin Graff /Record-Courier via Associated Press

Her mother, Dede, said seeing her daughter walk for the first time as the audience gave her a standing ovation left her crying so much that she couldn’t even cheer.

Principal Beth Coleman said Wright had been practicing all year. The teenager said she simply wanted to surprise her family and was stunned by the crowd’s reaction. She said she plans to keep working on walking.

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