UWE Bristol law graduate Jeremiah Daliel walks for the first time in 5 years on graduation day
Video showing the emotional moment he rises from his wheelchair to a standing ovation gathers more than 110,000 views in just two days
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Your support makes all the difference.A student at the University of the West of England (UWE Bristol) has become a viral sensation after standing to collect his degree on graduation day - having spent the last five years in a wheelchair.
Law graduate, Jeremiah Daliel, vowed to his classmates in first year he would stand to receive his degree, and stayed true to his word at his graduation ceremony this month.
A video showing the emotional moment he rose from his chair - to a standing ovation from his peers - as the deputy vice-chancellor conferred his degree, has gathered more than 110,000 views in just two days since being posted onto Facebook by the university.
The graduate described how he couldn’t believe he was standing unaided for the first time in years, and said: “It’s a miracle and thank you so much. Thanks to my friends, and the university, for all their support and encouragement.”
Daliel had been confined to a wheelchair since 2011 as a result of a “bad car crash.” In a blog post on LinkedIn, he explained: “Full recovery prognosis was three months tops, and worst case six. I spent a lot of my time in and out of hospital and realised that, apart from my deep law passion, I had a bit of time on my hands.”
During freshers’ week, he said he promised his classmates he was going to work “extra hard healthwise” to be well enough to be honoured standing
Reflecting on his memories of the day, he continued: “As the countdown began, I felt so nervous that I decided to chicken out. But as they called out my name, I looked round and saw all my classmates and heard them clap for me. I rolled forward and stopped short of two feet from the vice-chancellor and sat forward on my wheelchair. Took a deep breath and told myself ‘do it for your mates’. As if I was dreaming, I pulled myself up unaided and put my hands forward in prayer position for the honour and, guess what, I was stood on my feet unassisted for the first time in five years.
“I had done it and I prayed and said ‘thank you, thank you’. The roar of applause grew louder and louder and continued. It was only when my aide alerted me that my whole class had stood up in support that I realised these were not just classmates but my dear friends.”
Similarly, Micah McDade, from Okmulgee High School in Oklahoma, the US, did the rounds on social media in May after defying all the odds to shock his family, peers, and school staff to rise from his wheelchair and walk - for the first time - to collect his diploma.
Closer to home, in Newcastle, new graduate Melanie Hartshorn proved to be an inspiration after joining her classmates to collect her degree while on a stretcher. The 26-year-old has been left bed-bound because of a genetic condition that causes her joints to dislocate, leaving her in constant pain.
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