Prom day for stroke survivor Jordan Chaulk
The St. John's student has gone from hospital gown to high school grad, and his mom couldn't be prouder
Two-and-a-half years ago Jordan Chaulk had a stroke and had to relearn how to walk. On Friday, the St. John's teenager was preparing for prom.
"Thousands of hours of repetitive, monotonous rehab… all of that is finally paying off being able to graduate," Chaulk told the St. John's Morning Show.
His plans for Friday included donning a tux and visiting friends before heading to Waterford Valley High's first-ever grad ceremony.
It made for an emotional day in the Chaulk household. Jordan's mom, Leah Chaulk, wasn't always so sure her son would be able to take part in the typical graduation day festivities.
"Sometimes it takes looking back to see just how far he's come," she said.
"Proud, there has to be another word because we're beyond proud."
Chaulk suffered a stroke in January 2014 while playing hockey. He was 15-years-old, paralyzed on his left side, and needed a wheelchair to get around.
Since then, he has worked to recover his motor skills, and in May 2016 he was back on the ice for a charity hockey tournament in Paradise.
Despite all his missed classes, Chaulk has also finished school, receiving a personal accomplishment award on his last day, Thursday.
"We told him he was going to get an award for most days missed and still graduate," his mom joked.
Now that the stroke hurdle and high school are in the rearview, Chaulk is looking to the future.
He said he's been eyeing a film and video production program at the College of the North Atlantic's Bay St. George campus.
But first, he has to make it through prom night.