Heartwarming Moment Friends Lift Teen with Cerebral Palsy So He Can Score First-Ever Basket
Texas teenager Tristan Garcia, 14, is a die-hard Los Angeles Lakers fan, but his special education teacher, Elizabeth Castillo, loves the San Antonio Spurs.
The fun rivalry and bond over basketball brought the student and teacher together, and at the end of the school year, Castillo knew she wanted to do something special for her basketball-loving student.
According to the Daily Mail, Tristan was born prematurely along with his twin at 31 weeks. He was diagnosed with cerebral palsy at around 11 months.
Tristan uses a wheelchair to navigate the hallways of Harris Middle School in San Antonio, Texas.
As much as Tristan loves basketball, he told Castillo that he had never made a shot on a real court in his life.
On May 23, after the school’s Teachers vs. Students basketball game, Castillo told Tristan that now it was his turn to make a basket.
While the teen initially did not believe he could sink a basketball into the net, Castillo knew better, and rounded up a team of staff members and students to help him out.
If you haven’t already – check out @InsideEdition’s clip on our very own Tristan Garcia!! He is an inspiration to so many!!! So proud to be part of @Harris_MYP @IB_SAISD #MYP #AnythingisPossible https://t.co/Cg7b9W4Uvl
— Amanda McKay (@AmandaMYP) June 5, 2019
Tristan struggled, trying repeatedly to throw the ball high enough into the air to make the coveted basket, but from his wheelchair, he could only power the ball so far.
But as he tried over and over, he was surrounded by his peers who were cheering, clapping and chanting his name.
Though the disappointment was clear on his face every time the ball fell short, he didn’t give up.
Determined, Tristan tried to position his body a bit higher up in the chair to inch closer to the hoop.
The students and staff were also determined to see Tristan succeed. He was hoisted up in the air, and to everyone’s excited satisfaction, Tristan made the shot.
“He made that basket and there wasn’t a dry eye in that gym. The kids were all cheering. The teachers were all crying because we got to witness a miracle for Tristan,” Castillo told Inside Edition.
“When I made the shot and everyone started to cheer the feeling was indescribable — I was so excited,” Tristan said.
Tristan’s mother, Veronica Romayor, told the Daily Mail that watching video of Tristan’s big moment brought her to tears.
“When I saw the video I was speechless — I couldn’t believe that my son was out of his wheelchair shooting a basketball in midair — tears of joy ran down my face,” Romayor said.
“I am so grateful for the teachers and students that came together to help my son accomplish his goal. I hope that people realize that when we come together, we can help make a difference in someone’s life,” she said.
Romayor and Castillo know that Tristan is inspiring kids with disabilities to continue to pursue their own dreams.
“Just because you have a disability doesn’t mean you don’t have the ability to dream big; it just means that you may have to do things differently,” Romayor said. “All dreams are reachable.”
Castillo said Tristan has inspired people with and without disabilities to believe in one another.
“He’s given people that have no disabilities some hope,” Castillo told Inside Edition. “I told him, ‘You don’t realize what you did for kids in wheelchairs. You’ve made them realize if Tristan Garcia can do this, I can do it.'”
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