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Student, family proud of accomplishment

Former Maiden pupil to claim diploma Wednesday

By Sarah Newell Williamson | Hickory Daily Record

Published: June 9, 2009

MAIDEN - At 19, Tyler Ramsey has overcome much more than others his age. When he gets his diploma at Maiden High School's graduation Wednesday, there will be many who will cheer for him.

Ramsey has Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, commonly called CIDP. He doesn't always have signals going to his brain, said his mom, Janet. Coupled with CIDP, Ramsey also has scoliosis, a side effect of CIDP. He's had five surgeries on his back, Janet said, and rarely complains.

Ramsey attended Maiden High School for two years before he decided to finish high school at home because it would be easier.

"People were telling me that I couldn't graduate," Ramsey said. "It made me want to get my diploma."

When Ramsey attended Maiden High, he was a devoted sports fan, attending nearly every football, baseball and basketball game. Former Maiden High football coach Tom Brown even gave Ramsey an honorary football jersey to wear, and let Ramsey to hang out with the football team prior to games.

Ramsey is a die-hard sports fanatic, and although he doesn't go to Maiden High for classes anymore, Maiden High is still his school, and he still attends many of the games. He said when the basketball season begins, he'd come for the junior varsity basketball games, and stay straight through to the varsity, regardless of whether it was boys or girls.

He also attends Fellowship of Christian Athletes club meetings at the school to stay connected.

To finish his high school degree, Catherine Schronce, a teacher from Catawba Rosenwald Education Center, came to his home in the evenings and worked with Ramsey after she finished her daily work at Catawba Rosenwald. During the day, Ramsey would do the class work required for his classes.

"I'm proud of him. He's accomplished a lot," said Ramsey's dad, Carl. "This worked out better than when he was at school, because when he has to be in the hospital, it's usually for a week at a time. This way, we can just deal with it."

Ramsey's also completed some of the course work for his degree online. He said he has liked the combination of online and personal teaching he's gotten with his home schooling.

"I get more one-on-one time with the teacher," Ramsey said.

Janet said Ramsey also has done better academically since he began home schooling. His grades have improved, and Ramsey finished all the required classes in January, she said. Janet attributes it to the individual attention he's received from Schronce.

Ramsey said he's not sure what he'll do now that he will have officially graduated from high school this week, but the self-proclaimed sports nut hopes it will have something to do with athletics.

Whatever it is, Janet knows Ramsey can handle it.

"He's a lot tougher than most people," she said.