Girl injured in crash will graduate

LAKE COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35) - A teen who survived a car crash in December is being allowed to graduate after Lake County school leaders had a change of heart.

Lyndsey Joyce was told she could not graduate with her classmates. Now, the girl’s mom is crediting FOX 35 for the schools change of heart. They are now allowing Lyndsey to graduate with her senior class.

She survived a terrible car crash back in December and she'll never be the same again.She won't graduate high school but her friends are determined to get her to the ceremony anyway.

"She just couldn't wait for her graduation. She was so excited," Carol Joyce said as she looked at her daughter's cap and gown. For two weeks, it was looking like 18-year-old Lyndsey Joyce was not going to be able to walk with her class. Graduation is a milestone that neither her best friend nor her mother wanted her to miss. "I definitely thought it was dead in the water," Carol said.

Lyndsey was in a serious car wreck over Christmas break. She survived, but has a traumatic brain injury that left her unable to move or speak. Without going to go to school this semester, Lyndsey is one English credit shy of graduation requirements.
Last week we told you that the South Lake High School principal had said that she couldn't participate in graduation. "I was disappointed that she was not going to have that memory in her head," Carol said.

Lyndsey's best friend, Andrea, and her mom would not take no for an answer. Their hard work paid off. "Friday we got the call and they evaluated her and decided she qualified for a special degree,"  Carol said.

Lyndsey will get an exceptional student education "ESE" degree. "Lyndsey was excited. She actually was not able to sleep all day after I told her. She was excited which is what we're here for," Carol said.

Lyndsey has been accepted to USF. She wants to major in nursing. Carol hopes that her daughter can continue making progress in her recovery so she can earn that English credit and go on to college someday.

In the meantime, the community has really rallied around Lyndsey's cause. A company that rents wheelchair accessible vans has donated one to Lyndsey's family to use for the week to drive her to graduation activities. And, some other folks donated money to buy Lyndsey a new outfit to wear under her graduation gown. Graduation is Friday night at South Lake High School in Groveland.