At the start of his senior year at Herndon High School, James Culatta couldn’t even walk. During a hiking trip in Utah, James accidentally fell into boiling mud, suffering severe burns that covered nearly half of his body. He spent two months in the hospital, underwent multiple surgeries, and faced the daunting reality of relearning how to walk. Even a single step left him exhausted and discouraged.
But James refused to give up. With months of intense physical therapy and determination, he slowly regained his strength. By the time auditions for the school’s production of Footloose arrived, James was not only able to walk—he was ready to dance. He landed the lead role of Ren McCormack, stunning his director and peers with his incredible performance and perseverance. Director Scott Pafumi called his audition “amazing” and praised James for turning such a challenging journey into a beautiful triumph.
Opening night was emotional for everyone, especially James and his father, who called it “a miracle” to see his son on stage. James went on to graduate with an advanced diploma and now plans to spend the summer helping others as a counselor at a Utah burn camp, offering hope to kids facing struggles like his own.
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