1 week ago
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A teenager who hasn't been able to walk for 10 years did so at her high school graduation.
Melika Ghanaati, 19, shocked the crowd gathered at Northview Heights Secondary School in North York, Ontario, including her mother and father, as she took her first steps unaided since 2013.
At a young age, Melika was diagnosed with a number of medical conditions, including scoliosis, congenital myopathy, severe club feet and recurring kidney stones.
Melika depended on a wheelchair or walker, but after a year of intensive physiotherapy, she was able to walk independently across stage to receive her diploma and two academic awards.
'I wanted to surprise everyone with the walk, but most importantly, I believed I owed it to myself,' Melika said.
Melika Ghanaati, 19, shocked the crowd gathered at Northview Heights Secondary School in North York, Ontario, including her mother and father, as she took her first steps unaided since 2013
Video of the inspirational moment she walked for the first time starts with her slowly getting out of her wheelchair, dressed in a navy blue graduation cap and gown.
As she starts to walk, a teacher in a black gown stays close by as she starts to pick up her pace and make it to the middle of the stage.
Another clip shows the raw reaction from the crowd as they all stand up and clap for Malika.
Her severe scoliosis, a curved spine, and club feet, when a person's feet turn inward, have had the biggest impact on her walking abilities.
Between the ages of 10 to 13 Melika had to have three spinal surgeries, and when she was 12 she briefly died in the ICU after a procedure.
'I lost a lot of blood flow and needed to have a blood transfusion,' she said.
Following a surgery in 2016, doctor's told the chronically ill student that she was 'banned' from ever walking again, but four years later she was 'finally' given the okay to walk without aid.
Melika was diagnosed with a slew of medical conditions, including scoliosis, congenital myopathy, severe club feet and recurring kidney stones. She was guided by a teacher (right) as she got out of her wheelchair before she picked up her pace and made it to the center of the stage
Between the ages of 10 to 13 Melika had to have three spinal surgeries, and when she was 12 she briefly died in the ICU after a procedure
'At school I always had a walker, and after the surgeries I was banned from walking and to take a break if I need to stop,' she said.
Within three years, she became confident enough to see a physiotherapist, or physical therapist, just in time to walk at her graduation.
'By July 2022, I was doing physio- my last year of high school was very chaotic, I was trying to fit learning to walk in with four different extracurricular clubs,' Malika said.
By the time she got home after school, she said that she was 'completely exhausted' and 'did her best' to complete her at-home exercises.
She compared her sessions with her physiotherapist to 'a baby learning to walk' as she had to gradually take each step.
The homework that she was given by her doctor included her holding on to the wall and putting one foot in front of the other.
'Graduation was the goal, I had to keep going,' she said.
Following a surgery in 2016, doctor's told the chronically ill student that she was 'banned' from ever walking again, but fours years later she was 'finally' given the okay to walk without aid
In an attempt to keep her surprise under wraps, Malika chose not to tell her parents and friends that she was learning to walk for graduation. (pictured: Malika as a little girl)
In an attempt to keep her surprise under wraps, Malika chose not to tell her parents and friends that she was learning to walk for graduation.
She did inform the graduation committee at her school of her plan, just in case anything went wrong.
'I think in the back of my teacher's minds, they were worried I was going to fall.'
'I was asked if I needed my walker but I wanted to do it all on my own without anyone holding my hand,' Malika said.
As her graduation day approached, Malika said that she almost backed out of her plan and went on stage with her wheelchair.
'I was so close to changing my mind. The head of special education helped me out in case I fell, she was my plan B,' Malika said.
She admitted that as she walked, she kept telling herself not to fall, and looked down at her feet so she wouldn't get 'sidetracked' by the audience.
Malika not only received her diploma, but was given the Vision of the Future award for having good grades, and the school board award for academic and extracurricular involvement.
As her graduation day approached, Malika said that she almost backed out of her plan and went on stage with her wheelchair. (pictured: Malika holding on to a walker at an arcade)
She is now a psychology major at Glendon Campus of York University and has gotten involved on campus in a Research Apprenticeship Program and is an 'eAmbassador' for prospective students
With emotions flying high, she hadn't noticed that her parents, Marjan Simi, 49, and Masaud Ghanaati, 56, were a 'mess with tears' and that she received a standing ovation from the crowd.
'I didn't really process it at the time. If I had there and then, I would've started crying,' she said.
As she exited the stage Malika said that she felt a huge sigh of relief as she saw her wheelchair waiting for her.
'It was a big success, I saw my dad wiping tears with his jacket sleeve.'
Melika, who is now a psychology major at Glendon Campus of York University, said: 'This was such a special moment for me - my teachers and closest friends were worried about me, but I proved everyone wrong.'
According to her LinkedIn profile, Melika plans on becoming a lawyer one day and is 'very passionate about social sciences.'
She has also gotten involved on campus in a Research Apprenticeship Program and is an 'eAmbassador' for prospective students.
