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Subscribe to RSSU.S. Marine Staff Sergeant Jeremy Cooney had been told that his son, Michael, who has cerebral palsy, would never walk, but when he returned home after being in Afghanistan, Michael had a big surprise for him.
When Marine Staff Sgt. Jeremy Cooney, 31, returned home from Afghanistan to Camp Lejeune in North Carolina last December, he was taken aside and escorted into a gymnasium where his wife and five children waited.
There across the basketball court was his 6-year-old son, Michael, who suffers from cerebral palsy. Doctors told Jeremy and his wife, Melissa, 30, that Michael would never walk.
While Jeremy was deployed, though, Michael discovered how to stand up unassisted. His teachers, Melissa says, then began trying to teach him how to walk with a cane. Michael did them one better: he took several steps on his own.
Having seen the many military homecoming videos of returning parents surprising their children, Melissa decided that instead Michael would surprise Jeremy. She asked family members and friends not to post photos of Michael walking on Facebook or share the news of his progress with Jeremy.
Courtesy Melissa Cooney
Michael Cooney, who suffers from cerebral palsy and was not expected to walk, greets his father, Marine Staff Sgt. Jeremy Cooney.
When Jeremy entered the gym, he did not know his son could walk. Michael took dozens of halting steps toward his shocked dad, who crouched down on the ground and motioned for Michael to keep coming. As soon as Michael got close, Jeremy picked him up and embraced him.
The touching moment was posted Wednesday on Welcome Home Blog, a site dedicated to military homecomings. The video has since been viewed more than 767,000 times on YouTube.
"I can’t describe it," Jeremy said of the reunion. "It was years in the making just trying to get him limited mobility with surgery and a walker. It's probably one of the happiest moments of my life."
The reunion was orchestrated with the help of a family readiness officer who contacted Jeremy's supervisors in Afghanistan. Melissa and her five children arrived at Camp Lejeune at 10 p.m. and the buses came at 5 a.m. "Michael is a full-blown daddy's boy," Melissa said. "He stayed up the whole time."
In the months since Jeremy's return, Michael has been more active than ever. He has stopped using his walker at school. The family was able to take him into a cavern on a family vacation to Tennessee. Before, Jeremy says, he would have had to carry Michael. And this Easter, he was able to hunt for Easter eggs in the family's backyard. In years past, Michael had to crawl on the ground. "This [Easter], he got to go all over the place," said Jeremy.
Melissa says Michael's insistence on independence is characteristic of his personality. "I think that’s just who he is. He wants to be the same as everybody else. That’s the personality he has and I don’t think anybody can stop him."
Jeremy didn't expect the video to be viewed so widely, but says the focus should not be on his homecoming.
"The biggest story is [Michael] and his desire -- once he sets his mind on something he doesn’t settle for less," Jeremy said. "Parents are supposed to inspire their kids. In our kids, it’s the opposite. Michael inspires us on a daily basis. He’s a one-of-a-kind child."
Rebecca Ruiz is a reporter at msnbc.com. Follow her on Twitter here.
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Leave a Comment:
What a wonderful story. Good luck to Michael and family and thank you Jeremy Cooney (and family) for your service.
Not only are Michael and Jeremy heroes in their own right, but so is Melissa for bringing up 5 kids withdad gone - help or no help! Kudos to you all.
Amen! This is an All American Family at it's finest! Hooyah!
What a great story! To come home and see home your son has overcome the odds and doing what the doctors said would never happen. I imagine this family has been bursting to be able to share the wonder of it all with him and now they have him home to see for himself. What an amazing boy this kid is. And we do appreciate the service- from all of you. Our military families put in the time too.
Well done Michael. What a lovely story. Thank you. (Big fat tears in my eyes)
Beautiful story. Thank you for serving us, Sgt. Cooney and congratulations to Michael.
What a beautiful family. Thank you Staff Sgt. Cooney for your service to our country. Michael, you are such an inspiration to all. How awesome that you are showing that you can do what so many said you couldn't. Melissa, Happy Mothers Day to you..... what a wonderful Mother you are. Strong & able..... May the Good Lord Bless You All...........
Sgt.Cooney, Semper Fi and welcome home. Michael, great job, and don' ever let someone else establish your limits. Only you can do that. You just proved it.
FABULOUS!!!! I have to say. Out of all of the homecoming videos I have watched, this is the most touching. What a way to be greeted. Way to go Michael. Staff Sgt. Cooney - I applaud you and your family!!!! Welcome home and THANK YOU for serving our country.
God bless you and your family!!!!
GO MICHAEL!!!!!! Thank you for sharing with us...
Another proof that kids are not limited by their disabilities we are. Way to go Michael the world is yours.
AWESOME!!!
I am a rather tough cookie, but this story did it to me ...
Congrats Michael, keep up the good work. What a very special gift for you dad. I am certain he is deservingly, very proud of you.
What an amazing story. So refreshing to see that technology and determination of chldren can change the world.
This is a beautiful story and I am still crying.
what a GREAT story.
What a wonderful story. I am so happy for their family!
Thats hardly a walk. More like a waddle.
Nice heart there buddy... what is it: coal, garbage or empty like the Tin Man?
I'll take the risk of getting kicked off for a few days; you, "mysterious stranger", are despicable. That is the most graceful walk I've ever seen.
What a beautiful story. *cries some more*
What's sad about this story?
Look at the amount of comments...then look at the comments about Bristol Palin's recent remarks.
We as a society have our priorities completly twisted.
Nice job Michael! keep up the determination.
HE IS NOT A SOLDIER. HE IS A MARINE! Soldiers are the Army, Sailors are the Navy, Airmen are the Airforce, Marines are Marines. And his son has the drive of a Marine. Semper Fi and welcome home.
Shut up. Don't tarnish the emotional impact this family is enjoying all because of a frigging misuse of terminology..Terminology you are personally offended by. I was a US Army Cavalry Scout and what you said is baffling. The only thing you could think of posting was some ignoramus and asinine remark concerning the branch of the military. Who gives a damn, a son walked to his father for the first time, You're the only one who cares it was a Marine. I don't care how many years you may have above me...but I'm 27 years old and telling you bluntly. Grow up and stop being a tool.
Everyone else knows how to congratulate our serviceman (or is that too vague for you as well) even the fellow Marines. You chose to clarify it thus tarnishing the event. Would it really have had any less meaning if it was a friggin Coastie? God some people. One team one fight. Anyone against that shouldn't have joined.
He wasn't tarnishing the story. He was complimenting his son by pointing out that Michael has the heart and drive of a Marine. Semper Fi. As a mother of little girl with CP and the daughter-in-law of a Marine, I am grateful for the qualities passes to her from her Grandfather.
Complimenting before or after the fact was cleared up, what branch the father chose to serve in? I read the comment as well. 1% of the nation joins the military...i could care less if he's a Marine. That's what is most important, not what he wears on his lapel...we all have American Flags on our shoulders.
Michael is the hero and best wishes to him and his family, and yes, Marines are not soldiers.
Semper Fi, Staff.
He is right, Soldiers are Soldiers, and Marines are Marines. However in the end, we all serve our country with Honor and Pride.
welcome home Marine!!! now spend some much earned time with your family...best part of deployment is definitely coming home .....GREAT STORY!
Beautiful story. So proud and glad for all 7 of the family. A new start for all.
Well, THAT was worth about 2 boxes of Kleenex! And, "mysterious stranger 1," I'm sure you're just a troll, but I'm compelled to ask, " What's the point you think you might be trying to make?"
What an incredible story! Congrats to Michael for his determination and to Jeremy for his service to our nation.
I'm still looking for the wet-eyed smiley face! Way to go, little guy, keep "reaching for the stars".
Nothing like happy tears with my morning coffee...what a heartwarming story....amazing family.... you can just feel the love when you watch the video. Kudos to all of them...and thanks for posting this story here...more good news like this is needed.