Life
Teen girl was shot in the head 2 years ago and left for dead, now she’s homecoming queen
Her story is so inspiring!
Jaclyn Abergas
10.14.19

Two years before she was crowned, 17-year-old Desarae Turner was shot in the head by her schoolmates and left for dead.

Knowing Desarae always stuck to schedule, her mother had reported missing. Two women who joined the search party found her later that evening.

Praying for Desarae Turner Facebook
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Praying for Desarae Turner Facebook

She spent nine weeks in the hospital before her doctors could discharge her. She’s now partially blind and experiences paralysis on the left side of her body.

Since she was shot two years ago, she’s had 13 surgeries. Ten of these were brain surgeries.

She’s also had to go undergo physical therapy to train the left side of her body to move again. She also has to visit a chiropractor regularly to treat her chronic pain and she also has to sit in a hyperbaric chamber to return oxygen to her healing brain.

Praying for Desarae Turner Facebook
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Praying for Desarae Turner Facebook

Despite all this, finishing high school on time became her biggest goal.

And now, all her hard work and determination and has pulled off and she will be graduating with her class in spring 2020.

But one thing that really cemented her comeback from her tragedy happened at the start of her senior year.

Desarae’s classmates nominated and elected her as their homecoming queen of Green Canyon High School in North Logan, Utah.

Praying for Desarae Turner Facebook
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Praying for Desarae Turner Facebook

Normally, it wasn’t a big deal for Desarae but, considering what happened to her, it put things into a different perspective for her.

“I was just a homecoming queen; there’s nothing special about that,” Deserae told KSTU. “But then, if you think about what I’ve been through then yes, it’s very special.”

And it was supposed to be a secret but she couldn’t contain her happiness.

“I was bouncing around, and I was like, ‘I am going to be in the homecoming parade!’” Desarae shared.

Praying for Desarae Turner Facebook
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Praying for Desarae Turner Facebook

And the next thing she could think about was her outfit.

“‘Oh my gosh, I need a dress, I need someone to do my hair, I need my makeup,'” Desarae remembered thinking.

And her community continued to have her back. Even when she was still nominated, Desarae constantly received offers to help her with her hair, her clothes, her make-up, and everything else she’ll need for the homecoming dance.

Praying for Desarae Turner Facebook
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Praying for Desarae Turner Facebook

In fact, members of her community did her hair and makeup and some even paid for her homecoming dress.

“When people were volunteering, it was happy tears,” April Turner, her mother, said. “And again when people were cheering for her, it was happy tears again.”

And on September 27, 2019, she walked out into the football field with her father by her side with a sash over her gray tulle dress and a tiara on top of her long hair.

Praying for Desarae Turner Facebook
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Praying for Desarae Turner Facebook

“I felt honored to know the student body picked me to be Homecoming Queen,” Desarae told PEOPLE. “It felt magical, like I was Cinderella. [It was] a dream come true that I didn’t know I had. I was happy for days.”

She decided to attend the dance with a close friend of hers, Logan Matz, and enjoyed the night.

Praying for Desarae Turner Facebook
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Praying for Desarae Turner Facebook

Her family couldn’t be any happier.

“It is special to see Des so happy and doing something that normal teenagers do. Her life is so different than the typical teenager,” April shared. “It’s wonderful for her to just suspend her doctor’s appointments and therapies to be a ‘normal’ teen for a moment. I’m sure this will always be a treasured memory as she looks back on Homecoming week.”

Praying for Desarae Turner Facebook
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Praying for Desarae Turner Facebook

Desarae was beyond the moon.

“I would like to tell my community and school, thank you, I truly felt like a Queen. I wish every girl could experience such a magical, amazing event. I wish every high school student can feel as loved as I did,” Desarae shared of her experience.

Watch the video below to meet Desarae.

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