In a recovery process that involved tiny, painstaking increments, Adam Taliaferro took his biggest, boldest steps Friday.

Aided only by crutches, Taliaferro walked out of Philadelphia's Magee Rehabilitation Hospital.

The Penn State freshman football player suffered a severe spinal injury when he made a headfirst tackle Sept. 23 against Ohio State.

Taliaferro underwent spinal fusion surgery Sept. 25 at the Ohio State University Hospital in Columbus. He was transferred to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia on Sept. 27 and then moved to Magee on Oct. 6.

"He has worked hard," Dr. William E. Staas, Jr., president and medical director of Magee, said in a Penn State Sports Information press release. "He jumped rapidly from not walking to walking a lot faster than we had anticipated."

After the surgery, Taliaferro was unable to move his extremities. But after three months at Magee and the support of thousands, walking with crutches is one more step in Taliaferro's quest to get back to his athletic lifestyle. The 19-year-old said he would lift weights and run with his teammates, but will not play football again.

"Today is a real happy day for me," Taliaferro said in the release. "I'm just happy to be going home. I've still got a lot of work to do, but all the support around me got me through it."

In addition to the medical expertise that Magee's staff provided, the Taliaferro family had the backing of the entire Penn State community.

Moral support came in the form of banners, cards, stickers and a prayer vigil.

Physical support came in the form of physical therapy at Magee and the visitors to Taliaferro's hospital room.

And financial support came in the form of The Adam Taliaferro Fund, which raised over $210,000 for his medical bills. Volunteers collected money at football games and in various State College locations. The fund also received donations from sources outside Penn State, including Ohio State University.

"We are indeed the recipient of divine intervention," said Taliaferro's father, Andre. "The support from the university was nothing short of tremendous."

Penn State students were a vital part of the support. During football games, homemade signs expressing support dotted the stands. Some student fans purchased No. 43 jerseys, and almost all wore No. 43 stickers.

One such student who volunteered was Nicole Monaco, who helped collect money at the Student Bookstore, 330 E. College Ave.

"It was neat how everyone pulled together," said Monaco (sophomore-marketing and psychology). "Not everyone knew him, but you still felt for him and his family."