Beloved Boston teacher fighting to walk again after medical emergency

BOSTON -- A beloved Boston teacher, volunteer and mentor who suffered a medical emergency and became paralyzed from the waist down is receiving support from those whose lives he has touched.

Chris Wiley, 29, was rushed to the hospital with an infection in much of his body caused by diabetes, high blood pressure and a high body temperature, his mother, Lynda Johnson, told Boston 25 News Wednesday. Wiley underwent surgery to remove the infection, but later suffered a stroke, causing paralysis.

"It was devastating," Johnson said. "Twenty-nine and he can no longer walk? He’s pretty positive, though. He wants to walk."

Wiley, a math teacher at Jeremiah E. Burke High School in Dorchester, also tutors high school students through the Artward Bound program at Massachusetts College of Arts.

He also volunteers as a chapter advisor for the Delta Tau Delta fraternity at Northeastern University, where he earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering and his master's degree in counseling.

Joe Liddy, who is on the executive board of Northeastern's Delta Tau Delta fraternity, considers Wiley a mentor and a friend.

"He's just been such a motivator and a leader on campus. He's always constantly bringing in a smile, bringing in ideas... to better the Boston community," Liddy said. "He's really been just an incredible person, and he's given so much to us, and so we really want to give it back to him."

Liddy has organized a GoFundMe account to help cover Wiley's medical bills. Within one day, more than $7,000 had been raised.

"His goal was always to work with inner-city kids, and now he's a high school math teacher at Jeremiah Burke High School," said Mike Fox, a Delta Tau Delta officer. "I don’t think there's that many high school teachers that have a master's degree, in addition to a bachelor's in engineering. So Chris had a lot of opportunities available to him."

Wiley, who is currently being treated at Boston Medical Center, will soon head to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, where he will learn how to move around in a wheelchair.

Wiley, however, is committed to walking again and his attitude is positive, his mother said. Johnson is in awe of the support her son is receiving.

"It brings tears to my eyes. Oh my goodness," Johnson said. "He's a wonderful person, and I'm so glad others see that and others appreciate that.'

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