It was just a month ago when the aneurysm happened. Bryant's friends feared for his life, but he says his friends gave it back to him.
It was September 27...
Bryant Valdez was doing some stretches in his PE class when a brain aneurysm struck.
"I don't really remember much, just passing out in pe and waking up in the hospital."
His friends were scared.
Doctors told them the chances of surviving an aneurysm like this one are slim.
Francisco Sarabia said he didn't want to think about it.
"Most people don't like to think about their friends dying. So I was trying to keep it on the positive side of things."
Jazmin Villalobos was also worried.
"I just thought he was going to forget everything."
So they all piled into a car and headed to the San Francisco Hospital where Bryant was being treated.
Roxana Herrera said, "we were a motivation for him to keep on living."
They couldn't all get in to see him, so they made a get-well video.
Yosseline Pacheco missed Bryant's cooking while he was gone.
You could say he's the chef of their group.
He's pretty handy in the kitchen.
His dad does own a taco truck.
"He does really good smoothies. And burritos. Yeah, he knows how to cook really good."
It's only a month later, and Hector Perez says his buddy is back to normal.
"He's all happy and stuff. It's like funny like was before that happened."
Bryant's pals are now receiving the Tulare County Office of Education's character counts award for caring.
Bryant and his doctors don't believe he would've made it out of the hospital, without a little help from his friends.
"I found out they're true friends. They'll be there bad days, good days."
Tulare Western administrators say Bryant's survival is a testament to quick responses, not just by emergency services, but also by his friends.
Doctors say nothing heals quite like the power of friendship.
Bryant's friends were awarded $500 by the Tulare County Office of Education.
They'll be recognized this Monday, October 29th, at the Character Counts awards reception.
It takes place at the Tulare County Office of Education Center at 6pm.
The address is 2637 W. Burrel in Visalia.
TXT 24
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