Never give up: Troy senior with cerebral palsy walks at graduation

TROY, Mich. (WJBK) - Never give up. Three words Leanna Fakhouri lives by.  

She defines the world determination, while defying the notion of defeat. And she does it every day with strength and grace.  
   
The Troy high senior has cerebral palsy. Like any teenager she loves her friends, and her family, but unlike most teens she has spent most of her life in a chair. Her dream for years has been to walk the graduation stage and proudly pick up her high school diploma. Her care taker Teri who helps her get around, helps cement Leanna's words. 
  
"She wanted to make sure that she inspired people. That was one of the reasons and then the other reason was because she wanted to prove it to herself that she could do it," she said.

But because of the cerebral palsy, the risk was too much.  The experts told her no.  

"Everyone at therapy told me you will not walk," Leanna said.

Fakhouri's high school principal knew a no wouldn't stop her. Her teacher, Gail Yax, knew Leanna was planning something whether other people thought it was a good idea or not.  

"She was practicing and she practice so much that she actually had blisters on her feet. That's the little girl we're talking about. That's Leanna," Yax said.  

Then there were her own thoughts. On the most important day of her life so far: Could she do it?
   
There was pressure that she was mentally dealing with. It was a mental challenge for her to do what she did," Teri said.

But mom Sahara and father Azmi, both knew their daughter wouldn't let the nerves get the best of her.  

"She had insisted on walking even though she had a lot of people that recommended against it," her mother said.

The only recommendation she needed to hear came from within. The moment had come. She brought the entire graduating class to their feet as she took to hers. As hard as it was, with mom and dad watching.  

Leanna Fakhouri took these steps to send a message to the graduating class that words couldn't do. Keep your eyes on the goal.  You can do anything you want if you believe.  

"She did it! She proved everyone wrong and she did it," her mother said.

Leanna next wants to attend Oakland University where she will study criminal law which is something she is very passionate about.

Her message anybody can do anything.