PORT DICKINSON, N.Y. – A Year After Tragedy, AJ Presto Defies the Odds and Prepares to Graduate

PORT DICKINSON, N.Y. – A Year After Tragedy, AJ Presto Defies the Odds and Prepares to Graduate

(PORT DICKINSON, N.Y.) — In a story that has inspired a community and touched hearts far beyond upstate New York, 18-year-old AJ Presto is preparing to walk across the graduation stage at Chenango Valley High School, just one year after a life-altering swimming accident left him paralyzed.

What started as an ordinary summer kickoff on June 14, 2024, quickly turned into a defining moment in AJ’s young life. That Friday had been filled with the usual excitement of high school students celebrating the end of the academic year. AJ, a rising senior, had just completed his English Regents exam and was eager to join friends at a pool party to celebrate the start of summer break.

“It was the last day of school,” AJ recalled in a recent interview with WBNG. “I had just finished my English Regents. I wanted to go to a pool party to hang out with my friends.”

But a split-second miscalculation changed everything.

During the party, AJ dove into the pool and struck the bottom—suffering a devastating spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the chest down. In the days and weeks that followed, the once-athletic and outgoing teen faced the unimaginable: months of hospitalization, surgeries, painful rehabilitation, and the mental and emotional toll of accepting a new reality.

Yet from the very beginning, AJ made a choice—not just to survive, but to live fully.

With the support of his family, friends, school community, and dedicated medical team, AJ embarked on a journey of recovery and self-discovery. He faced each challenge head-on, determined to regain as much independence as possible. Physical therapy sessions became his battlegrounds, and classrooms became his sanctuary. Through it all, he maintained his studies, even attending virtual classes and participating in school activities from home and rehab centers.

As word of his resilience spread throughout Broome County and beyond, so did the support. The Chenango Valley community rallied around AJ, organizing fundraisers, building accessibility ramps, and delivering meals to his family. Classmates started wearing T-shirts with slogans like “#PrestoStrong,” a simple yet powerful statement of solidarity.

Now, exactly one year later, on June 14, 2025, AJ Presto is not only alive—he’s thriving. And he’s ready to graduate with the Class of 2025.

“It means everything to me,” AJ said. “A year ago, I didn’t know if I’d be able to finish high school, let alone graduate on time with my friends. But here I am.”

AJ plans to cross the graduation stage in his wheelchair, flanked by his classmates, teachers, and a community that has watched him rise with unshakable determination. Though he can no longer walk, he has redefined what it means to move forward—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

“I want people to know that no matter what life throws at you, you can keep going. Your story isn’t over,” he said.

Looking ahead, AJ has big dreams. He intends to enroll in Broome Community College in the fall to study digital media and communications—a passion that grew during his recovery as he documented his journey on social media to inspire others facing similar battles.

“My injury doesn’t stop me from living a full life,” he said. “It’s just a different kind of full.”

His message—clear, powerful, and deeply personal—has resonated with countless others navigating their own hardships. In every way, AJ Presto is a symbol of perseverance, courage, and the kind of hope that cannot be measured by what we’ve lost, but by what we choose to do with what remains.

As he takes the stage to accept his diploma, AJ’s story will serve as a powerful reminder to his peers and to us all: true strength doesn’t lie in our ability to stand, but in our refusal to fall.

#PrestoStrong #ChenangoValleyPride #ClassOf2025