Incredible video shows high school grad won't allow disability to stop him from walking the stage

Carson Covey, an 18-year-old Colorado high school senior, made sure he walked across the stage to accept his diploma this year despite his physically debilitating disability.

Covey has cerebral palsy and, after spending most of his life in a wheelchair or in bed, only just learned to walk a few months before graduation, according to KCNC-TV.

Covey's mother, Theresa Major, told WMAZ-TV, "When Carson was first born, we obviously had no idea what he was going to be like physically or mentally."

Covey, who speaks through a tablet, told KCNC, "I decided two years ago that my goal was to walk across the stage at graduation. I think I can do anything when I set my mind to it."

So what did Covey do?

Attending Chatfield High School's graduation ceremony, which was held at Red Rocks, Covey did just that.

With the help of physical therapy, multiple surgeries, and the high school football coach's weight training class, Covey managed to retrieve his diploma on foot.

According to KCNC, Covey approached Coach Bret McGatlin to tell him that he wanted to be a part of the school's football team.

McGatlin took Covey up on his offer and made the student an "unofficial assistant coach" for the team, according to KCNC.

In his role, Covey recorded football practice and games and edited the footage.

He also led the team onto the field prior to each game with a school flag draped from his wheelchair.

In addition to working with the team, Covey was also working out and hired a physical therapist to help make his graduation goals a reality.

"He was not ambulatory at that time," the therapist, Hank Schwartze, told KCNC, which reported that Covey spent every day for the next two years working out and pushing the limits.

"We had to work on everything," Schwartze, who trained with Covey for free, said.

According to Covey's family, Schwartze also helped foot the bill for a specialized walker Covey would use at graduation.

Schwartze and Covey visited Red Rocks in the days before graduation to practice the walk.

What happened on graduation day?

On graduation day, Covey's name rang out across the amphitheater, and he slowly walked his way across the stage — without the assistance of any person, and with his specialized walker — and got his diploma.

"[There was] not a dry eye in the place," McGatlin said, according to KCNC.

Schwartze added, "[Covey] spent 18 years of his life getting ready for this moment. It is hard not to tear up."

On his success, Covey told KCNC, "If you want a goal, work at that goal. It may take you 15 years, at some point you will do it."

According to WMAZ, Covey plans to work with a speech therapist after high school and has plans to run his own video editing service.