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Community Rallies Around 'Archer Strong' McDonogh Student

BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- "Archer Strong." Two words capture the hope, strength and courage of 17-year-old McDonogh student Archer Senft. His life was turned upside down this summer after an innocent dive into the ocean left him paralyzed.

Mary Bubala reports he's faced six months of grueling treatment but now he's home and showing us what "Archer Strong" really is.

There's no place like home, and for Archer Senft, it's a place doctors told him he may never see again. But here he is, home---just six months after a devastating spinal cord injury.

"Words can't describe how good it was to finally be home. It's just good to, you know, feel somewhat normal again," he said. "I've always been able to find a place inside of me where I can get that kind of fighting spirit."

Archer Strong

After the accident, Archer had to fight for his life, then fight to get off a ventilator. He defied doctors again and again. He's regained movement of his bicep muscles, which allows him to use a stylus on a tablet to text and learn.

He now meets with a tutor to reach his goal of graduating with his McDonogh class of 2017. That was his first stop on the way home last week. The school has been so supportive of Archer with fundraisers.

"He's doing beautifully," said his parents, who are so thankful for all the support shown to their son and family. "There have been a lot of really beautiful responses and coming together of the community and outpouring of love and generosity and all of that, I feel, is just the silver lining in this really tragic thing."

And there's no doubt "Archer Strong" is just getting started.

"I have really felt the support and the good vibes," Archer said.

The family really believes all the support and their strong faith has led Archer to make all these advances. They are very open about the fact that they believe he will walk again someday.

For more information on Archer's journey, click here.

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