MULDROW (KFSM) – A Muldrow high school student, who should be graduating with the Class of 2015, will be honored at the spring commencement ceremony Friday night (May 22nd), district administrators said.
A chair at the ceremony will be left empty for Christian Mayberry, who was injured in an ATV accident on September 1st, 2013, Muldrow High School Principal Steve Page said. Speakers will also say a few words about Christian at the ceremony in his honor. Students who are graduating will also watch a video from Christian congratulating them about finishing their high school careers. School officials say the ceremony will also pause for a moment of silence in Christian’s honor.
Since the accident, Christian has been through a number of surgeries, according to his mother, Kim Mayberry. He even had to have two large pieces of his skull removed to relieve pressure on his brain.
Christian has spent time at hospitals, nursing homes and rehab facilities in both Oklahoma and Arkansas, and is now receiving treatment from doctors in Florida where is making a strong recovery.
“When we first got to Florida, he couldn’t stand or even put any weight on his two feet,” Kim Mayberry said. “Now, not only is he walking but he’s been able to walk 1,850 feet this week. It’s just amazing.”
Since Christian will not be able to attend the graduation ceremony, Principal Page sent him a cap and gown as well as an honorary diploma in the mail earlier this week. His family said they plan to hold a graduation party of their own for him at FINR Rehab Facility in Wauchula, Florida Friday night to celebrate all of Christian’s accomplishments.
“Christian was really depressed about not graduating,” Kim Mayberry said. “He wanted to be there. It made him really sad to think about his classmates going through graduation without him. So, I got to thinking, and decided Christian was going to graduate anyway. He will receive that diploma. We will turn what could’ve been a very sad night for him into a happy milestone he can remember for years to come. It means the world to him that he’s still able to graduate with his classmates tonight. He can’t wait to celebrate.”
Christian’s family said they love that the school was able to send them a cap and gown to make it official.
“All of the seniors have written notes to Christian congratulating him on graduation, and telling them they’re thinking about him,” Kim Mayberry said. “Those notes are in the mail right now, and we just can’t wait to get them.”
In addition, a documentary about Christian’s journey is being made. Film production will begin Friday night at Christian’s graduation party, Kim Mayberry said. Once complete, the film will describe Christian’s accident and detail his recovery process.
A close family friend of the Mayberry’s, Terry Rose, who works with the Walmart Home Office, is also coordinating graduation gifts for Christian which will be given to him at the party Friday night.
“It’s just amazing what she’s been able to do for us,” Kim Mayberry said. “We’re just so honored that everyone is working so hard to make Christian a part of graduation. It really means a lot.”
Muldrow’s Graduation begins at 7 p.m. Friday night.
A Go Fund Me Page is set up for the Mayberry family. If you would like to help you can donate here.
For complete coverage about Christian’s accident, click here.
