Dickson County High School student Patrick Bradford was born with a club foot and walks in constant pain.DICKSON, Tenn. -
Dickson County High School student Patrick Bradford was born with a tumor on his tailbone which caused him to have a club right foot.
He does not have control over the foot and must wear a brace to function normally.
Soon, he will have a prosthetic after he gets his club foot amputated next week.
"It has got the carbon fiber so it won't bend or nothing, it is just there and then it moves to where my height is," he explained of his new leg.
The prosthetic couldn't come soon enough for Bradford, who walks in constant pain.
"He is walking around now, on the pain scale between 1 and 10, it is 10," school nurse Laura Williams explained.
Bradford added, "I am ready to be out of pain. I have been in pain all of my life. I am ready for it just to be over."
Friday was Bradford's last day of school until after his surgery. Fellow students and teachers surprised him with a care package at the end of the day and wished him a speedy recovery.
"The outpouring of emotion from the students has been overwhelming as long as with the faculty and the staff," classmate Angela Richardson said. "Everyone, from the janitors and the cafeteria staff to the principles, everyone just thinks the world of Patrick."
Bradford's goal is to heal as quickly as possible so he can get back to his friends, play football and get back to fighting fires with the rescue squad where he works.
