MacKenzie Maier graduated from Louisiana Tech University in a personal ceremony at Touro, a community-based healthcare hospital in New Orleans, on Friday afternoon. And she did it all just weeks after being in a devastating car crash that left her with spinal cord injuries and more.Maier's crash happened just one day before her original graduation ceremony was scheduled.“It hasn’t been an easy one, by any means, but I’ve made it work. You know, each day you keep pushing and pushing, and I get stronger and stronger, and here I am," Maier said of what her journey has been like.Maier's doctors said her determination and hard work are contributing to her recovery. She has even been able to get in some steps with some assistance. Her goal now is to be able to walk on her own and go on to do her dream job of being a pediatric intensive care unit nurse.“This is what we do it for; it’s for these victories and patients like her, that are so inspired and inspire us, fill our souls too. Makes it very good for us as well," said Susi Folse, Maier's physician.This isn't the first adversity Maier has faced in her life. She also faced and beat a form of brain cancer as a child. She says she isn't done yet either and looks forward to the future.“Eventually, I just want to get back to where I originally had on my plans. Get back to where I can be a PICU nurse and be able to live out my career and hopefully one day travel and just do all the things I would have done if this accident wouldn’t have happened," said Maier.Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy also attended the graduation as the commencement speaker. He says Maier shows the strength of the people of Louisiana.

At just 12 years old, Cody Unser was left paralyzed from the waist down.

“I was really depressed and angry,” Unser said. “You know, everybody has like an idea of what their life is going to be like… especially when you're younger, you have all these dreams and aspirations.”

Her paralysis was caused by a rare autoimmune disease called Transverse Myelitis. The disease causes inflammation of the spinal cord, the part of the nervous system which sends messages from the brain to nerves.

Unser adapted to the challenge of life in a wheelchair and then dove deep into the daring sport of scuba diving.

“It was the first time that I felt not only free, but also very confident, independent,” she said.

Unser and her late mother, Shelley, founded the Cody Unser First Step Foundation shortly after her diagnosis, to improve quality of life for those living with spinal-cord related paralysis.

On the third anniversary of her mother's death, Unser partnered with The Scuba Company to hold an event at the Rio Rancho Aquatic Center in New Mexico to teach people with disabilities the power of adaptive scuba diving.

Rio Rancho Mayor Greg Hull attended and participated in the event.

“This is just another example of how we want to make sure we're reaching out to the whole community – that we're being inclusive and making sure that everyone has a great quality of life here,” he said.

But inclusivity is often a struggle for people with disabilities.

“We live in a concrete jungle that's not always giving to people with disabilities,” Unser said.

The beauty of scuba diving, she said, is that it can be adapted to nearly everyone.

Twenty-five-year-old Cameron Lewis' way of life changed this past April when his leg was amputated following a nasty crash on I-40.

His doctor recommended he attend Unser's event to meet new people and better adapt to his new circumstances. Although it was his first time scuba diving, it's safe to say, it won't be his last.

“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “It's making me work a lot of joints I haven't moved in a while. It's freeing, I love it.”

Yasmany Fuentes, a certified instructor and manager at The Scuba Company said watching people experience the sport brings him immense joy.

“They're just feeling weightless, the weight of the world, the stress, how injured they are, how heavy they are, however the equipment is…. it does not matter,” he said. “They're completely weightless. They're in complete Zen.”

“Our motto is ‘changing lives one dive at a time.’” Unser said. “It really only takes one dive to change someone's life.”

If you'd like to learn more about this program, you can visit their website at www.codysfirststep.org

Watch the video above for Cody's full story.

Parker Denny, a Sycamore High School senior who was diagnosed with a brain tumor in February, was well enough to attend his senior prom and be crowned king this month.

A video posted by Sycamore Community Schools on Thursday shows Denny’s classmates clapping and screaming their support as he walks into the prom to receive his crown.

A happy #ParkerDennyStrong update: Parker just finished his last radiation treatment and is expected to walk at graduation on May 30! He shocked everyone by attending SHS Prom where he was crowned Prom King. Congrats, Parker!! Take a look: pic.twitter.com/vGSzjcitB3

— Sycamore Schools (@SycamoreSchools) May 20, 2021

He went through brain surgery, rehabilitation and months of physical therapy to reach that point. After the successful removal of his brain tumor, Denny developed Posteria Fossa Syndrome, which affected his ability to walk, talk and swallow.

His school counselor Rose Mitchell said he persisted through treatment with hopes of being able to walk across the stage at graduation with his classmates, who have supported him through his struggle.

Classmates held Jersey Day to celebrate his love for sports, wore gold for pediatric cancer awareness, wrote him letters of support and sold Parker Denny Strong wristbands to raise money for Denny's family.

The district expects him to reach his goal and accept his diploma on his feet May 30.