- Daquan Minor was told by doctors he would never walk again after a car accident left him paralysed at 16
- Thirteen years after his injury, Minor stood up from his wheelchair at a university graduation ceremony in Texas
- The same profession that helped Minor recover became the one he chose to dedicate his life to
At 16 years old, Daquan Minor's world changed in an instant.
Source: Instagram
A serious car accident in 2013 left him paralysed from the waist down, and medical professionals delivered a verdict that would have crushed most people: he would never walk again.
Thirteen years on, Minor proved every one of those doctors wrong.
Now 29, he rose from his wheelchair and walked across the graduation stage at Texas Woman's University on 23 October 2026, collecting his doctorate in occupational therapy in front of the people who had stood by him through it all — family, friends, and fellow graduates.
What steps did Minor take?
The steps he took were made possible by a specialised device that uses electrical stimulation to activate the muscles in his legs.
It was a moment that drew widespread attention after being shared on Instagram by popular page Pubity, moving thousands of people across the world.
What makes Minor's story particularly powerful is not just the physical feat, but the path that led him there.
Who helped Minor navigate life after injury?
During his long recovery, it was occupational therapists who helped him navigate life after his injury.
Their dedication left such a deep impression on him that he resolved to enter the same field himself, driven by the desire to offer that same support to others facing life-altering conditions.
His journey, from patient to practitioner, represents a rare kind of full circle.
Minor's story resonates far beyond the United States
The discipline that once helped him rebuild his life is now the one he has committed to professionally, armed with the highest academic qualification in the field.
Minor's story resonates far beyond the United States.
For many Kenyans who have experienced life-changing road accidents — a daily reality on the country's highways — his determination to reclaim his future and then use that experience to uplift others speaks to something deeply human: the refusal to be defined by the worst moment of your life.
Ghana's youngest ever doctor pursues master's
In another story, TUKO also highlighted facts about Dr Kwaku Boakye Gyamfi, Ghana’s youngest doctor, who pursued a Master’s in Public Health several years after graduating from the University of Cape Coast.
He qualified as a doctor at 22 and was named the university’s Best Graduating Student in Surgery.
Source: TUKO.co.ke