Metro Atlanta
Metro Atlanta

DeKalb boy overcomes amputations to march in high school band

Jahkee Johnson, a 15-year-old Cedargrove High student, manages to play in the marching band despite being a double amputee. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)
Jahkee Johnson, a 15-year-old Cedargrove High student, manages to play in the marching band despite being a double amputee. (Credit: Channel 2 Action News)
By Joshua Sharpe
Nov 28, 2016

Despite major challenges, a DeKalb County high school student manages to play in the marching band.

According to a report on Channel 2 Action News, Jahkee Johnson was born with a rare disease and has lost his legs below the knee, but the 15-year-old boy is defying his disability and his classmates' notion of what he can do.

"We were practicing, and everyone was shocked, but they started to see and treated me like a normal person," Jahkee told the TV station.

RELATED: Christmas in DeKalb County: 13 family fun events happening soon

RELATED: Dunwoody police warn of increased deer activity

RELATED: Top teacher announced for every DeKalb County school

The boy attends Cedar Grove High in Ellenwood and was born with tibial hemimelia. His amputations took place when he was an infant.

He grew and even managed to play sports for years before arriving to Cedar Grove and falling in love with the tuba, Channel 2 said.

He wears padded shoes that help him march and sway with the other students.

Like DeKalb County News Now on Facebook | Follow on Twitter and Instagram

About the Author

Follow Joshua Sharpe on twitter
More Stories

Keep Reading

DeKalb County firefighter Preston Fant, 53, died while battling a commercial structure fire Sep. 8, officials said. (DeKalb County Fire Department)

Credit: DeKalb County Fire Department

Funeral to be held at Truist Park for fallen DeKalb firefighter

The veteran firefighter died Monday while trying to save his colleague as they battled a blaze at the Digital Thunderdome warehouse on South Stone Mountain Lithonia Road.

Cobb high school student stabbed to death by classmate, officials say

The student, identified in a statement by the Mableton mayor as David Daniel, died Saturday evening after being injured at a home, according to police.

BREAKING

Arrest made in theft of unreleased Beyoncé music during Atlanta tour stop

Kelvin Evans, who has an extensive criminal history in Fulton County over the past two decades, was arrested in Hapeville following an investigation, authorities said.

The Latest

DeKalb County firefighter Preston Fant, 53, died while battling a commercial structure fire Sep. 8, officials said. (DeKalb County Fire Department)

Credit: DeKalb County Fire Department

Funeral to be held at Truist Park for fallen DeKalb firefighter

Cobb high school student stabbed to death by classmate, officials say

BREAKING

Arrest made in theft of unreleased Beyoncé music during Atlanta tour stop

Featured

Fulton DA Fani Willis (center) with Nathan J. Wade (right), the special prosecutor she hired to manage the Trump case and had a romantic relationship with, at a news conference announcing charges against President-elect Donald Trump and others in Atlanta, Aug. 14, 2023. Georgia’s Supreme Court on Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, upheld an appeals court's decision to disqualify Willis from the election interference case against Trump and his allies. (Kenny Holston/New York Times)

Credit: NYT

Fani Willis loses last chance to stay at the helm of Trump Georgia election interference case

Georgia's top court declines to hear Fani Willis appeal in Trump case, meaning she can no longer pursue the election interference case.

Investigator: Ex-APD officer raped woman on duty, returned when she called 911

Fulton County Magistrate Judge Todd Ashley ruled there was enough evidence for the case to proceed against former officer Muhammad Muhammad.

Cobb County agency green lights tax break for Home Depot’s $140M project

The Development Authority of Cobb County voted 6-0 to give initial approval for Home Depot's request Tuesday but didn't disclose the property tax savings the company sought.