Piedmont hosts student’s graduation after unexpected hospitalization

COLUMBUS, Ga. ( WRBL ) — When it became clear one student would not be able to walk in her high school graduation, her community stepped in.

Seventeen-year-old Anja McCord was run over  by a car just days before receiving her diploma from Callaway High School. Even though she was unable to walk across the stage with the rest of her class, McCord’s family, friends, high school staff and care team at Piedmont Columbus Regional didn’t think she should miss out on the pomp and circumstance.

“We wanted to do something special for her this morning,” Callaway High School Principal Jason Graham said. “We wanted to make sure she knows how much we love her, how much we support her.”

Any staff that could attend drove from Troup County down to Piedmont Midtown for the ceremony on May 24. Those who couldn’t make the trip still donned their graduation attire and gathered in the Callaway High School media room to join the ceremony via video call.

Piedmont’s Patient Experience Representative Alexis West and Certified Child Life Specialist Abigail Gaunce were part of the planning team responsible for the ceremony. West said she had been receiving text messages since 7 a.m. the morning of the graduation from excited guests who wanted to be sure everything went well for McCord.

This is the first time Piedmont has hosted a full graduation ceremony for a patient, but hospital representatives said everyone was on board.

“Today has been just amazing. Wonderful, amazing experience for us to share with Anja and her family to celebrate this tremendous milestone that she has accomplished at Callaway High School,” West said.

Originally, staff had planned to surprise McCord with the graduation ceremony. When chatter about the event started spreading, they had to reveal the secret but still managed to keep some of the details hidden.

McCord, wearing her cap and gown, shed tears as hospital staff pushed her wheelchair into a Piedmont conference room to “Pomp and Circumstance.” Days before, a graduation ceremony hadn’t seemed possible. Her father said it would be a memory she carries for the rest of her life.

“It’s been momentous, the outpouring of support has been tremendous and as a dad – father – it’s awesome,” said McCord’s father, Titus. He continued, “Awesome how everyone has pulled together to show that support.”

Following speeches from Graham and other Callaway High School staff, McCord accepted her diploma and turned her tassel, marking the end of four years in high school and the start of a new chapter.

Although she couldn’t graduate with the rest of her class, McCord will become part of the Georgia State University class of 2028 in the fall.

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