From near death to overcoming near-impossible odds, a Burlington teenager is on the road to recovery.
17-year-old Andrew Hartle was paralyzed from the chest down after he hit his head while swimming in Puerto Rico.
Since the accident in September, he's worked to get stronger every day and is now able to move both his arms.
If you asked Andrew how he'd be spending the bulk of his senior year in the hospital wouldn't make the list.
"For a month, I was on a feeding tube and breathing on a vent. I went a month without eating [on my own], without breathing [on my own] and that was probably the lowest point I've been at in my life," Andrew said.
Though difficult, he has made significant progress.
"I've got almost everything in my arms except for my triceps my wrist and my right is working orderly well. I don't quite have it yet in my left." he said.
Andrew also no longer needs feeding or breathing tubes.
Through the three hospital transfers, multiple surgeries, and the sometimes grueling physical therapy, Andrew kept his spirits up never losing the positivity he's known for.
"It's just going to continue to get better, you know. I'm going to be even stronger. I'm going to be hopefully getting more sensation, more function out of my body," he said.
Andrew says he wouldn't have made it this far without his family.
"It's hard work being here just to witness the strength that he has both mentally and physically it's been amazing. I couldn't be more proud as a mom," Amy Hartle said.
The Hartle family says they are grateful for the encouragement they've received from both friends and strangers.
"We just can’t thank our community, we can’t thank our friends and family and strangers enough for giving us the help and all the prayers that they have given us. That’s really what kind of held it together for us," Amy Hartle said.
If all goes according to plan, Andrew will be home sometime next month.
He's getting treatment at the Shepherd Center in Atlanta.
Although he's been in the hospital, he's kept up with his school work.
He says he's looking forward to graduating with his class from the Burlington School this spring.