Someone You Should Know: Christopher Williams
CHICAGO (CBS) -- How many American teenagers can speak Japanese?
We know one.
But, when he was a very sick baby, doctors did not think he would be able to do much of anything.
Now, he is on is way to college.
Despite a disability, he has amazing talents.
As Harry Porterfield reports, Christopher Williams is Someone You Should Know.
Christopher Williams came into this world at Methodist Hospital in Gary, Ind., on July 20, 1993. His mom, Charletta lost her mother, father and sister in quick succession.
"My father was in the hospital at the time that I had Christopher," Charletta said. "He was terminally ill."
The one day, she found Christopher unresponsive in his crib. He needed to be resuscitated three times to bring him back to life.
Charletta hoped from a miracle.
"My dad's gone, my mom, my sister," she said. "Oh my god, he's all I got.
"I've got nothing else on this earth. Don't take my baby away from me."
Doctors told her with the multiplicity of heath problems, there was little chance her son would live more than a year.
"If he did survive he would be in a vegetative state," Charletta said.
After extensive therapy, she got him into special education classes.
Although Williams has autism, he soon was enrolled in honors course.
Williams went on to graduate from West Side Leadership Academy as salutatorian of the class of 2013.
"A lot of days I wanted to give up," said Charletta.
Christopher Williams, who can speak five languages, said: "To be a fatherless child and disabled and still make it this far. I would just like to thank my mom for all that she has done."
Christopher will be attending Purdue University and wants to major in mechanical engineering and technology.
"I feel very excited that I could overcome challenges and live to my full potential."
