Two years ago, Kevin York thought he’d never be able to walk across the stage and receive his diploma.
That was then. York has spent the intervening time making up more than 100 deficient credits — all while battling a degenerative disease.
“Toward the end of my junior year, I felt that I could do this,” said York, an 18-year-old senior who suffers from muscular dystrophy and who will graduate tonight from Jesse Bethel High School.
The disease progressively weakens an individual’s muscles, with symptoms varying from person to person. Though diagnosed at about 4 years old, York’s muscular dystrophy didn’t really manifest until high school, where it left him tired and unable to keep up with his school work.