Toomey's First Day

It's the first day of school for kids across Mobile County, but while many were sad to see their summer break end, one Satsuma teenager was actually looking forward to today!

Joseph Toomey was critically injured in a car crash on November 20, 2007, 14 days after his sixteenth birthday. The crash left Joseph paralyzed from his chest down, and some wondered whether the Satsuma High School football star would ever return to class. Nine months later, Joseph continues to beat the odds and proves anything is possible.

Joseph made his way through the halls of Satsuma High School, just like everyone else!

"I was a little nervous," said Joseph. "I love being back at school just getting into a routine doing normal stuff."

Joseph is enrolled in a full load of honors classes. In fact, News Five caught up with him in his Trigonometry class. "I was actually taking a little assessment test," says Joseph. "Little things like that are actually fun if you miss out on them for a while."

Debbie Aultman, the principal at Satsuma High School, says Joseph's return is a huge milestone. "He's a miracle. To see him now, he has a special place in all our hearts," says Aultman.

Joseph plans to continue improving, and he insists he will walk again. Three days a week, Joseph will leave school at 12:30 to go to physical therapy. Aultman says he will earn a varsity PE credit while he's there.