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Megan Silcott, an 18-year-old from Maryland, stole the show when she opened the Art Institute’s runway show at New York Fashion Week and received a standing ovation, something the likes of Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid couldn’t even receive.

Megan made her way slowly around the catwalk, step-by-step, taking deep breaths as everyone looked on in amazement. Just a couple of years ago, doctors told her she would never be able to walk again, yet she found a way to strut her stuff at fashion week.

The once athletic teen and aspiring model woke up Aug. 16, 2012 unable to move. Doctors soon told her she was paralyzed and diagnosed her with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, a rare neurological disorder, caused from a previously undiagnosed mono infection.

“When I was 16 years old, one night I was out with my friends and I had to come home, I didn’t feel that great,” Megan told Good Morning America. “I went to bed and I woke up in the morning and I couldn’t get out of bed. I couldn’t walk.”

Megan was put into a medically-induced coma to stop the paralysis from spreading and once she woke-up she was told she would never walk again, or if she did it would be an “unbearable” process.

Despite this, Megan kept fighting, and through physical and mental therapy she is learning how to walk with a walker or on crutches.

“Through endless hours of physical therapy and relentless determination, Megan has since been able to walk again,” said the Art Institute’s run-of-show. “Megan is determined to fully recover and pursue her dream of a career in acting or fashion. Tonight we are going to witness her road to recovery get one step closer.”

Iron Hope, a charity that aims to “improve and enrich the quality of life of those afflicted with paralysis,” sponsored Megan’s whole trip to NYC and helped her live out her dream.

"Here I was not able to move, not thinking I would ever be able to walk again," Megan said. "You know, it just goes to show that anything is possible and if you put your mind to it, it can get done."

What do you girlies think of Megan's story? Share in the comments below.  

by Kate Radin | 2/1/2016