HOUSTON – Determination keeps 19-year-old Ricky Davila moving.
Late last year, the Northside High School senior couldn't move one of his legs.
He was stabbed as he stood in line at Poppa Burgers on North Main, just north of downtown, on Dec. 27, 2016.
"Was really able to move my upper body and my right leg. Just my left leg ... it wasn't moving at all,” Davila told KPRC 2.
His mom is a personal trainer. With her help, he has fought back.
"I'll take it easy on him. Don't want him to be too sore for prom. I want him to be able to dance. And move around," Cristina Davila said.
He said there won’t be much dancing when he goes to prom on Friday night. But he has plans to keep moving -- a lot.
He said he plans to follow in his mother’s footsteps and work for FedEx Express in Houston. He said the company even helped pay for a new brace.
There is still a lot of recovery ahead for Ricky.
"I can feel mostly everything in my left leg. To right here. And my right leg is numb. Can't feel anything," he said.
For now, he concentrates on strengthening his core and his mind. He will graduate on May 27. He will walk across the stage. Without hard work and determination, he said he might still be on crutches.
Police arrested Michael Kenneth Jones, who is accused of stabbing Davila.
Jones is in jail on a $75,000 bond.
He is expected back in court on June 14.
