Walking across the stage to receive a university degree is a major milestone in any student’s life.

But after six years of hard work and dedication, Sophie Roy (BA ’24, BEd ’24) wasn’t sure she was going to get that chance.

Two weeks before she was set to graduate from Brock University on Thursday, June 13, the 24-year-old underwent emergency spinal surgery to treat a rare condition that left her paralyzed from the waist down.

Attending Convocation was left in limbo, and “that nearly broke my heart because I’ve worked so, so hard,” Roy said.

The Hunstville, Ont., native had been diagnosed with Cauda Equina Syndrome, a rare neurological condition that occurs when a collection of nerves that rest at the base of the spinal cord become compressed. This cuts off sensation and movement to the legs, bladder and bowel.

After undergoing a major surgery to treat the condition, Roy was transferred to the Lyndhurst Centre, a Toronto Rehabilitation Institute, to undergo specialized care to regain motor and organ function.

Sophie Roy (BA ’24, BEd ’24), left, celebrates her graduation day with her sister, Phoebe Roy (BScN ’20). Roy graduated from Brock’s Concurrent Education program with a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education on Thursday, June 13.

In the days leading up to her graduation from Brock’s Concurrent Education program, where she would receive both a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education, Roy wasn’t sure when — or even if — she would walk again.

“It was super traumatic and really discouraging,” she said. “My life had changed forever.”

Her father and fellow Brock graduate Jeff Roy (BAdmin ’86) said progress happened incrementally.

“Five days ago, we didn’t know if she could even come [to graduation] in a wheelchair,” he said.

Then, Roy sat up.

She stood.

And finally, she began to walk again.

“One day she started to walk, and then more, and then more,” he said. “She was moving her foot an inch, and then oh, wait a minute, let’s go a little farther.”

When it was finally time to take the walk across the stage, he and Roy’s mother, Janice, watched eagerly in the audience.

Roy’s sister, fellow Brock graduate Phoebe Roy (BScN ’20), stood close by in case she needed a helping hand.

But Roy walked from one end of the stage to the other completely unassisted — and on her own terms.

“My surgery was two weeks ago, and I was able to go to my graduation and walk across the stage. Honestly, it’s purely a miracle,” she said.

“It’s also because I had my family advocating for me 24-7. I have people willing to drop everything and who consider it a privilege to be able to come into one of the worst valleys and one of the scariest seasons of my life. That’s a gift.”

Her sister, who is currently a pediatric nurse in Cambridge, said she couldn’t be prouder.

“It was amazing; I was sitting on the ramp and just weeping,” she said. “When we were in the hospital [Sophie] said, ‘I’m not going to be able to go to grad,’ and I said, ’Oh, you are walking across that stage.’ And so, she did.”

Phoebe added that she was humbled to be able to apply the skills she learned during her nursing studies, as well as from volunteering in Brock’s Power Cord program for people with spinal cord injuries, in such a meaningful way.

The Roy family (from left), Jeff, Sophie, Janice and Phoebe, came together to celebrate Sophie’s graduation from Brock University on Thursday, June 13.

While Roy admits there are still many hurdles to overcome, the experience has only strengthened her passion for teaching.

“Brock has equipped me with the pedagogical knowledge, certainly, to be able to teach students,” she said. “Now, I want to get into a classroom to test out all of this knowledge and see how it actually applies with real kids.”

Once she is discharged from the rehab facility, Roy plans to spend her summer focusing on her recovery, spending much-needed time with her dogs and completing some online courses to further bolster her qualifications.

She also hopes to find a position teaching primary-level French soon — following in the footsteps of her mother, who also taught French.

“I love teaching because it’s about helping people and empowering people,” Roy said. “I’ve been told ‘you may never walk again,’ and I was walking just days post-op, so I’m kind of putting to bed telling kids what they can’t do and really encouraging kids to believe in what they can do.”