Teen with muscular dystrophy walks to receive high school diploma

BEARDEN, Ark. -- A 19-year-old from Arkansas with muscular dystrophy set walking at his school's graduation as his top goal. A few days ago, he achieved that goal.

Doug Haynes of Bearden, Arkansas, had surgery last November to treat the condition, which he had since he was 12, that left him unable to walk.

Haynes has undergone hours of physical and occupational therapy daily since the surgery.

He told only his family, a classmate and the school's principal about his plan to take his first steps to receive his diploma on May 20.

Haynes was helped out of his wheelchair and across the stage to receive his diploma by his physical therapist. A classmate moved his wheelchair to the end of the stage.

The crowd inside the auditorium gave Haynes a standing ovation. Most of them knew him from when he was a boy and had watched him deal with muscular dystrophy.

Check out the full story from ABC News.