Makaya Noble, the Texas high-school cheerleader who was paralyzed in a freak gymnastics accident, has been able to feed herself for the first time since her injury, according to an update posted by her family.
The 17-year-old Prosper resident suffered a severe spinal cord injury while tumbling—a form of gymnastics that involves acrobatic maneuvers—on September 20, leaving her paralyzed from the chest down and unable to move her hands.
Following the accident, Noble spent more than three weeks in hospital at Medical City Plano before transferring to a rehab facility, where she currently lives.
On Saturday, the teen's family posted an update to the "Makayla's Fight" Facebook group saying she had a "great day" with her brother and sister.
"As we previously mentioned, the weekends are a little bit slower, a time to rest and do a little homework! Mak has been playing games today for her homework to work on finger control and is enjoying that challenge!" the family said in the update.
"One big thing Mak's team has stressed was the importance of her Tricep strength so she has been working hard at that! Today that hard work paid off and she was able to feed herself for the first time since the accident!"
In an update posted to Facebook the following day, the family said all the nurses on Noble's floor got together and threw her a surprise birthday party with "balloons, cake and dancing."
"Mak received a special gift from a little boy, Warrior Will (7) who is battling Leukemia and his twin sister, Cora, who is a cheerleader!"
The family said the injured teen also got to learn a new skill in recreational therapy today: how to do her laundry.
"She is very excited about this!" the family said in the update.
On Friday, Noble had her tracheostomy tube removed, which she had been fitted with during her hospital stay due to problems she was experiencing with her lungs.
Since the accident, Noble and her family have received an outpouring of support from their local community and people all over the world.
The Makayla's Fight group, where regular updates about the teen's condition are shared, has more than 46,000 members. A GoFundMe page set up by a family friend, Tiffany Smith, to help with her medical expenses has raised more than $183,000.
Just over a week ago, Noble revealed in a video message that she could feel her legs again for the first time since her accident—a significant step in her rehabilitation process.
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Aristos is a Newsweek science reporter with the London, U.K., bureau. He reports on science and health topics, including; animal, ... Read more
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