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Central Florida high school cheerleader refuses to let paralysis hold her back - WESH 2 Orlando

October 31, 2019 at 11:39PM

Central Florida high school cheerleader refuses to let paralysis hold her back

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COURTNEY JASMIN REPORTS. COURTNEY: CHEERING ON FRIDAY NIGHT, MCKENZIE TUCKER GETS SO MUCH JOY. >> CHEERLEADING BRINGS THE ATTENTION AND ENERGY TO THE GAME AND THAT IS WHAT I LIKE BRINGING TO PEOPLE. COURTNEY: SHE HAS HAD POM-POMS IN HER HANDS SINCE THE AGE OF FOUR. BECAME A LEVEL FIVE CHEERLEADER BY THE AGE OF 13. MADE THE MUSTANGS J.V. TEAM AS A SOPHOMORE, VARSITY AS A JUNIOR AND SENIOR. NO WAY A WHEELCHAIR WILL STOP HER FROM DOING WHAT SHE LOVES. >> I TELL PEOPLE I CAN DO EVERYTHING ELSE OTHER PEOPLE CAN DO, I JUST HAVE TO FIND A DIFFERENT WAY TO DO IT. COURTNEY: IN 2014, A COMMON COLD TURNED INTO MUCH MORE. >> MY BODY ATTACKED MY SPINAL CORD WHEN IT WAS TRYING TO ATTACK THE COLD. I'M PARALYZED FROM THE CHEST DOWN. COURTNEY: MCKINSEY HAS TRANSVERSE MYELITIS, A RARE DISORDER CAUSED BY INFLAMMATION OF THE SPINAL CORD. BUT LOSING THE ABILITY TO WALK DID NOT MEAN SHE LOST THE ABILITY TO CHEER. THIS YEAR, THANKS TO COACH CAM, SHE DID NOT HAVE TO GVE UP STUNTING. >> SHE HAS NOT COMPLAINED ABOUT TOO MUCH OF ANYTHING. >> LIVE DISORDER IS BROKE DOWN INTO THIRDS. A THIRD OF THE PEOPLE MAKE NO RECOVERY. A THIRD MAKES PARTIAL RECOVERY. A THIRD MAKES FULL RECOVERY. THE NO RECOVERY, I HAVE ALREADY PASSED. COURTNEY: THERE ARE STILL A CHANCE FOR HER TO MAKE A FULL RECOVERY. HER GOAL IS TO WALK ACROSS THE STAGE ON GRADUATION IN MAY UNASSISTED. >> I KEEP A SMILE ON MY FACE AND I REALIZE A GET TO EXPERIENCE NO ONE ELSE DOES. THEREFORE, I NEVER GO DOWN THE PATH OF WHY DID THIS HAPPEN TO ME? COUR

Central Florida high school cheerleader refuses to let paralysis hold her back

Wekiva High School senior McKenzie Tucker has been a mainstay on the sideline for the past two years.She has a smile as bright as the sun and a story that reminds us to stay positive even when our circumstances make it hard to. See McKenzie's story in the video player above.

Wekiva High School senior McKenzie Tucker has been a mainstay on the sideline for the past two years.

She has a smile as bright as the sun and a story that reminds us to stay positive even when our circumstances make it hard to.

See McKenzie's story in the video player above.

Central Florida high school cheerleader refuses to let paralysis hold her back

Hide TranscriptShow Transcript

COURTNEY JASMIN REPORTS. COURTNEY: CHEERING ON FRIDAY NIGHT, MCKENZIE TUCKER GETS SO MUCH JOY. >> CHEERLEADING BRINGS THE ATTENTION AND ENERGY TO THE GAME AND THAT IS WHAT I LIKE BRINGING TO PEOPLE. COURTNEY: SHE HAS HAD POM-POMS IN HER HANDS SINCE THE AGE OF FOUR. BECAME A LEVEL FIVE CHEERLEADER BY THE AGE OF 13. MADE THE MUSTANGS J.V. TEAM AS A SOPHOMORE, VARSITY AS A JUNIOR AND SENIOR. NO WAY A WHEELCHAIR WILL STOP HER FROM DOING WHAT SHE LOVES. >> I TELL PEOPLE I CAN DO EVERYTHING ELSE OTHER PEOPLE CAN DO, I JUST HAVE TO FIND A DIFFERENT WAY TO DO IT. COURTNEY: IN 2014, A COMMON COLD TURNED INTO MUCH MORE. >> MY BODY ATTACKED MY SPINAL CORD WHEN IT WAS TRYING TO ATTACK THE COLD. I'M PARALYZED FROM THE CHEST DOWN. COURTNEY: MCKINSEY HAS TRANSVERSE MYELITIS, A RARE DISORDER CAUSED BY INFLAMMATION OF THE SPINAL CORD. BUT LOSING THE ABILITY TO WALK DID NOT MEAN SHE LOST THE ABILITY TO CHEER. THIS YEAR, THANKS TO COACH CAM, SHE DID NOT HAVE TO GVE UP STUNTING. >> SHE HAS NOT COMPLAINED ABOUT TOO MUCH OF ANYTHING. >> LIVE DISORDER IS BROKE DOWN INTO THIRDS. A THIRD OF THE PEOPLE MAKE NO RECOVERY. A THIRD MAKES PARTIAL RECOVERY. A THIRD MAKES FULL RECOVERY. THE NO RECOVERY, I HAVE ALREADY PASSED. COURTNEY: THERE ARE STILL A CHANCE FOR HER TO MAKE A FULL RECOVERY. HER GOAL IS TO WALK ACROSS THE STAGE ON GRADUATION IN MAY UNASSISTED. >> I KEEP A SMILE ON MY FACE AND I REALIZE A GET TO EXPERIENCE NO ONE ELSE DOES. THEREFORE, I NEVER GO DOWN THE PATH OF WHY DID THIS HAPPEN TO ME? COUR

Central Florida high school cheerleader refuses to let paralysis hold her back

Wekiva High School senior McKenzie Tucker has been a mainstay on the sideline for the past two years.She has a smile as bright as the sun and a story that reminds us to stay positive even when our circumstances make it hard to. See McKenzie's story in the video player above.

Wekiva High School senior McKenzie Tucker has been a mainstay on the sideline for the past two years.

She has a smile as bright as the sun and a story that reminds us to stay positive even when our circumstances make it hard to.

See McKenzie's story in the video player above.

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