KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) -
A young man forced to spend his senior year of high school in the hospital is still excited to put on his cap and gown.
Instead of the white walls of classrooms and the drone of teachers helping his way through senior year, they were the white walls of a hospital and medical machines keeping Jacob Harris company.
Harris, of Wichita, KS, spent his entire senior year at St. Luke's Hospital waiting on a heart transplant, and it's there he'll receive his cap, gown and diploma from Andover High School.
"I was born with aortic stinosis, and then I had open heart surgery and then I got an infection in my heart," Harris said.
That infection quickly spread to his kidney, forcing doctors to amputate his leg.
Harris said when he woke up in from surgery eight months ago, he knew he wouldn't be attending his high school graduation.
"Whenever I was down in the ICU, I told my dad that I was going to graduate, and they pushed me and everyone's pushed me," Harris said.
On May 20, when his class walks, they will honor Harris with the Ace Award, which recognizes character and academic excellence.
Harris will watch via livestream on his computer.
"I mean at least I'm going to be able to watch it," Harris said.
Harris continues to wait for a heart, and in the meantime a medical fund has been setup in Harris' name.
To donate, contact:
White Eagle Credit Union
2830 Ohio Street
Augusta, KS, 67010
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