Putting their best foot forward! South Carolina homecoming court goes barefoot in solidarity with epileptic Down Syndrome student who suffered a seizure and couldn't walk high heels

  • Strom Thurman High School student Nataleigh Deal, 19, was one of several homecoming queen nominees vying to be crowned at halftime on October 4
  • Deal, who has Down Syndrome and epilepsy, suffered a seizure some time before her the ceremony and opted not to wear heels to avoid feeling worse
  • The other young ladies in her homecoming court chose to shed their pumps too
  • The stadium erupted in cheers when Deal was chosen to be homecoming queen

Strom Thurman High School student Nataleigh Deal, 19, was one of several homecoming queen nominees vying to be crowned at halftime on October 4

Strom Thurman High School student Nataleigh Deal, 19, was one of several homecoming queen nominees vying to be crowned at halftime on October 4

A South Carolina high school student enjoyed a fairy tale ending after a health-related rough start to the night she and her peers competed for the ultimate symbol of adulation from their classmates.

Nataleigh Deal, 19, who suffers from Down Syndrome and epilepsy, was one of several young ladies nominated to serve as homecoming queen at Strom Thurman High School in Johnston, South Carolina - home of the rebels - a town about 26 miles east of the southern state's western border with Georgia.

Nataleigh was all set to join the school's homecoming court during the football team's halftime break the night of October 4 when she suffered a seizure some time before the game. 

A doctor advised her and her mother, Carleigh Deal, that Nataleigh could still attend the homecoming ceremony, but she couldn't wear high heels because her body wasn't stable.

'At that moment when I found out I couldn’t wear heels, I didn’t feel too good," Nataleigh told WJBF.

A photo of Nataleigh Deal (left) with her mom Carleigh Deal. Natalie, who suffers from Down Syndrome and epilepsy, had a seizure the night she was set to participate in her school's homecoming court ceremony during the football team's halftime intermission. The teen's doctor told her she could attend the event, but couldn't wear heels because her body was still unstable

A photo of Nataleigh Deal (left) with her mom Carleigh Deal. Natalie, who suffers from Down Syndrome and epilepsy, had a seizure the night she was set to participate in her school's homecoming court ceremony during the football team's halftime intermission. The teen's doctor told her she could attend the event, but couldn't wear heels because her body was still unstable

The other young ladies in her homecoming court chose to shed their pumps in solidarity

The other young ladies in her homecoming court chose to shed their pumps in solidarity

When her special needs teacher, Miesha Gordon, heard the news, she reached out to the other homecoming candidates who decided if Nataleigh couldn't wear her shoes, they wouldn't wear theirs either.

'My first thoughts about walking across barefoot were, "Of course, I'll do it!" Not only because my heels were hurting my feet, but mainly to make Nataleigh feel better,' fellow homecoming court candidate Lillian Mann said. 

Nataleigh sucked it up and went through with the ceremony despite not feeling well. 

The magical evening reached a climax when the 19-year-old was crowned homecoming queen, sending a stadium full of admirers erupting with cheers.

Strom Thurman High School is located in Johnston, South Carolina, a town about 26 miles east of the southern state's western border with Georgia

Strom Thurman High School is located in Johnston, South Carolina, a town about 26 miles east of the southern state's western border with Georgia

The magical evening reached a climax when the 19-year-old was crowned homecoming queen

The magical evening reached a climax when the 19-year-old was crowned homecoming queen 

'I heard [them] saying my name and [then] I became Homecoming Queen,' Nataleigh said. 'I was feeling much better.'

Carleigh Deal was equally appreciative of the way the community rallied around her daughter.

'The inclusion and love will never be matched,' she wrote on Facebook. 'We will always be a rebel family.' 

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