MEMPHIS, TN -
(WMC-TV) - Nine months after she was struck by lightning on the first day of her senior year, the Mid-South's "living miracle" attended her senior prom.
When lightning struck Tierney Bourage, it stopped her heart for more than 20 minutes. She then lay in a coma for six weeks.
"I'm trying not to cry," said Bourage's prom date Rodrick Tennial. "We're going to get you a crown, baby. You're prom queen tonight."
"When we were in Atlanta, she was saying, 'mom, I'm not even going to get to go to my prom,'" said Bourage's mother Barbara Turner. "I said, 'yes you are, you're going to get to go.'"
After hearing Bourage's story, businesses donated everything from the dress of her choice to flowers. Stylists volunteered their services for her hair, makeup, manicure and pedicure.
Before the lightning strike, Bourage was an honor student at Southwind High School. She even tutored students in math.
Students gave her a standing ovation when she returned to school on a limited basis. She now copes with tunnel vision, which makes walking and reading difficult, but she did get special glasses to help.
"It's hard to read when you can only see a letter or two at a time," said Bourage.
Her plans to go to college and become a neo-natal nurse are on hold for at least a year. That will give her time to continue rehabilitation and allow her brain time to continue healing.
"They were reading out all the accolades and scholarships of the students, and she was like, 'mom, that's supposed to be me,'" said Turner. "I said, 'I know, it's still going to be you, just not right now.'"
Bourage has already proven she is a fighter.
"From them saying first of all, she's not even supposed to be here, then she's going to be a vegetable," said Turner. "Here she's walking, talking, going to school, going to graduate, going to prom."
Next up for Bourage is graduation. Since she was only two credits shy of graduating before she started her senior year, she will be able to graduate on schedule next month.
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