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Ryan Harless poses for a picture with Clemson football players C.J. Spiller, left, and Jarvis Jenkins as part of his birthday celebration in August at Memorial Stadium in Clemson. Harless, a former student and basketball player at Daniel High School, was involved in an automobile accident on June 2 that left him with what doctors called a ‘50-50 chance to live.’ Now, less than six months later, Harless has not only survived but still has hopes of making a full recovery.

CLEMSON — Nearly six months removed from his horrific car wreck, it's hard to express just how far 106 steps really go for Ryan Harless.

It was poignant that on the Monday before Thanksgiving, the 17 year old took that many steps to crush his previous best of 44 during a physical therapy exercise in what proved to be another sign of how quickly, surely and remarkably Harless has continued to improve from his June 2 wreck just down the road from Daniel High School.

The day of the one-car incident, doctors gave the sophomore a 50 percent chance to live. By the next day it was an 80 percent chance, with the odds continually rising in Harless’ favor as time wore on.

As it stands now, today on Thanksgiving, it's just a matter of the quality of life Harless can enjoy from here on out, and his doctors have placed no ceiling on how far he can take his recovery.

And with such positive news out of what was nearly a horrendous tragedy, there aren't likely many families around the area with as much to be thankful about today than Harless and his family.

"We have everything to be thankful for," his stepfather Mickey Plyler said. "We're so fortunate, and no one could be more thankful this Thanksgiving than our family."

Plyler, the host of 'Rush Hour' on WCCP 104.9 FM, has been right there the entire way of Harless' amazing journey back from the accident, including many of Harless' 76 days in the hospital, with 32 coming at Greenville Memorial Hospital and the other 44 in Charlotte.

Harless, now living with his mother in Charlotte, is currently getting out-patient therapy three times a week, works out at the area YMCA and is still active with an in-home schooling program that includes a wide range of subjects.

It's a far cry from the two weeks early in the recovery process that Harless was in a coma following the brain injury he sustained in the wreck. The blow to his cerebellum has affected his balance, breathing and motor skills, but Harless has already made tremendous strides in all areas.

For many teenagers, and adults for that matter, it would be easy for someone like Harless to be bitter about the tough hand he was dealt. After all, he was readying himself to compete for a spot on Daniel's varsity basketball team, after two years with the junior varsity squad, and seemed to have everything going for him.

And with the dire situation facing his stepson, Plyler found himself astounded by the attitude Harless showed, with a cheerful attitude and a smile that couldn’t be wiped from his face just as soon as he was cognizant in his hospital room.

But in hindsight, it’s easy to see now exactly why Harless was so happy.

He was ecstatic just to be alive.

"The doctor gave me a 50-50 chance to live, and I'm just happy that I got the 50 to live," Harless said Monday from Charlotte.

It’s that sort of attitude and perspective on life that has helped draw so many people to Harless’ story, as he has become something of a legend around the area, and to legions of Clemson fans from not only the immediate area, but around the world as well.

“He has taught so many people around him about resiliency, about attitude and about being grateful,” Plyler said. “He's just taught so many great lessons, and it's amazing much older people than him are learning from a 17-year old.”

Many of the Clemson fans, and even some followers that don’t necessarily back the Tigers, found Harless’ story through Plyler’s blog on tigernet.com, a popular fan forum for Clemson athletics.

A few days after the accident, Plyler began giving regular updates on Harless’ condition, which became the lead topic of the blog for several weeks, with fans and supporters lending their thought and prayers to the family with each post.

Plyler said he still has at least 500 e-mails saved that he been unable to read yet. He also added he has received correspondence from nearly all 50 states, throughout Europe and even from American soldiers fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq.

“Ryan truly doesn't comprehend the prayers and why people pray for him and how many people pray for him,” Plyler said. “He's a little overwhelmed by it.”

Harless had a chance to meet at least a portion of those supporters at his 17th birthday party in Clemson on Aug. 16, just two days after his release from in-patient care in Charlotte.

Among the guests at Valley Walk in Clemson was Tigers’ head basketball coach Oliver Purnell, who Harless recently had the chance to reunite with in Charlotte.

Harless and Plyler took in the Tigers’ victory against Charlotte last Saturday, which made for plenty of photo opportunities with the team following the game.

“My favorite part was meeting Oliver Purnell, Terrence Oglesby and Trevor Booker and just shaking their hands,” Harless said.

Harless will be back in Clemson on Friday night, but he doesn’t plan on attending the Tigers’ game against Presbyterian. Instead, he’ll be back at Daniel to watch the final game at Singleton Field, which will see the Lions take on Chester for the Upper State championship. From there, Harless will cap an eventful Thanksgiving weekend with a trip out to Death Valley for the Clemson-South Carolina game at noon.

“I am really looking forward to it,” Harless said of the weekend. “Just hanging out with all my friends and just watching the Tigers beat the Gamecocks.”

The prospect alone of Harless heading into Death Valley this weekend is an accomplishment considering all he’s been through, and more than a few Tigers fans will certainly be there to greet him and praise him for the resiliency he has shown during the recovery process, never allowing himself for a moment to be frustrated with his situation.

“It takes major patience just to go through all I've been through,” Harless said. “My mom says patience makes perfect, so in that case, I guess in a matter of time I'll be perfect.”

It’s that kind of attitude and outlook that Plyler said stretches back to the basketball court for Harless, who wasn’t given the tools alone to be a solid player, but got to that point through hard work and determination.

Just like he did on the court, Harless still doesn’t complain about any of the work he has to go through, as he continues to take more steps every day on the way to a full recovery.

“He holds no resentment, and he's a unique kid because he never gives up and he always fights, and he'll continue to do that,” Plyler said.