PDHS student walks in Rose Parade five years after losing part of his leg

15-year-old Adrian Grajeda brought in the new year by walking in the 130th Rose Parade.

Grajeda, a sophomore at Palm Desert High School, had his leg amputated to the knee when he was 10 years old. On October 2013, Grajeda was playing soccer with his friends during recess at Lincoln Elementary School in Palm Desert when he was hit by a car that crashed through the fence.

Today, millions around the world watched as Grajeda walked alongside the Lifestream Blood Bank “Donate Life” float for the 5-1/2 mile parade in Pasadena. After the crash, Grajeda needed emergency blood transfusions to be stabilized for surgery. His family has expressed how thankful they are to donors.

Grajeda has led an active life in the five years since the crash. He returned to the soccer field after months of physical rehabilitation, he played softball at a Wounded Warriors Amputee Camp, and even served the Chief of the Indio Police Department for a day.

This past fall, Grajeda was the starting Safety on the PDHS Aztecs junior varsity football team. News Channel 3’s Kelley Moody spoke to Grajeda before the big day. When asked about how he feels about walking those five miles down Colorado Boulevard in Pasadena he said, “Football practice is a lot worse.”

Watch: Grajeda speaks to News Channel 3 ahead of the Rose Parade

If you are interested in donating blood to LifeStream, visit their website at https://www.lstream.org/ .