The parents of two boys, Odin Frost and Jordon Granberry, were given grim prospects when they were born. They were told that their sons would never be able to walk and would live in a vegetative state, given they’d survived their early years. But 18 years have already passed and the teenagers have just graduated from high school. The pair really beat all odds and exceeded all expectations. And after one of the boys’ father shared a photo showing them on their very first day at school, and at their graduation, the internet just fell in love.

The boys met when they were both just 3 years old on their first day at school. The photo that one of the boys’ father shared shows them sharing a seat together. From that day on, Odin and Jordon started sharing a special bond, despite being almost completely non-verbal.

More info: Reddit

The parents of these two boys were told that their chance of survival was 2%

Image credits: SWNS

This week, during their high school graduation, they recreated the photo that was taken 15 years ago. Odin’s proud parents told the media that the shots that look almost identical remind them of just how far the boys have come. Tim, Odin’s dad, told one news outlet: “My son and his best friend were both told their survival rate would be around 2%, that they’d never walk, and that they’d live in a vegetative state—if they made it past seven years. Both walked the stage and graduated. I was on cloud 19. I was so fricking proud of him.”

Deanda, Odin’s mom, experienced preeclampsia when she was expecting, and the boy was born three weeks early and suffered from a bleed on the brain. Doctors weren’t one hundred percent sure of the diagnosis, but told Odin’s parents that he wouldn’t walk nor talk, had brain problems, and his cognitive abilities would never exceed the average 7-year-old. “Everyone was saying ‘be prepared’ and that he was going to stay in the little kid stage for most of his life,” Tim, Odin’s father, shared. Nevertheless, the boy beat all odds and after joining a school for children with special needs when he was 3 years old, he met his all-time best bud, Jordon.

But fast forward to today: the 18-year-old best friends have just graduated from high school together

Image credits: SWNS

Talking about the special bond between Jordon and Odin, Tim said: “They are fiercely loyal and protective of each other. If someone comes too close to Jordon, and they don’t like the vibe, Odin will go into protective mode. Odin will laugh and Jordon will laugh too—it has always been that way. They have a special connection that I don’t know if the outside world would know what was going on.” Before birth, Jordon had a blood infection and his brain was deprived of oxygen, which caused permanent brain damage.

They share a special bond after their friendship was born back on their first day at school, when they were just 3 years old

Image credits: SWNS

Both boys proved doctors wrong and walked. Odin started walking when he was 5 years old, while Jordon took his first steps recently, before turning 18 years old. While he can walk, Odin, who has non-verbal severe autism, uses a wheelchair for long distances. He isn’t very talkative, but is aware of what is going on around him. Odin’s parents Tim and Deanda formed a special friendship with Jordon’s parents, Donna and Damon, as well. The proud four parents watched their sons graduate last week. After they took a photo of the best buds sitting side by side, they realized that it reminded them of something—of the very first day at school for the boys.

Despite being given grim prospects for the future, the two boys beat all odds and proved the doctors wrong

Image credits: SWNS

Odin’s dad shared the side-by-side photos on Reddit and was overwhelmed with the positive response. The photo received over 112k likes and thousands of kind comments. “We’re more used to people being mean than being kind,” Tim told the media. “People stare in public and kids make fun and the internet is usually one of the most horrible places. I was getting ready to defend him, but it has just been kindness. My wife and I just lay there in bed reading the comments, and we were crying at how beautiful it is,” he said. He later added: “We just want our kids to be seen, and seen for the beautiful humans they are, and seen for their accomplishments.”

Tim shared the side-by-side photo of boys on Reddit, and here’s what people said

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