What happened to Johnny in The Outsiders?

There are several significant events that take place in Johnny's life throughout the novel The Outsiders. Johnny is a rather timid, sympathetic character. Early in the novel, Ponyboy tells Cherry that Johnny was beaten badly by a gang of Socs. Pony says that Johnny looked unrecognizable and was beaten within an inch of his life. Johnny vows that he will never be jumped like that again and carries a blade with him everywhere he goes. One night, Ponyboy and Johnny are hanging out at a local park when a group of Socs approaches them. The Socs attempt to drown Ponyboy and Johnny stabs one of the Socs. Johnny ends up killing Bob Sheldon and decides to run away with Ponyboy. Johnny and Ponyboy hide out in an abandoned church in the town of Windrixville. One day, Dally comes to visit them and takes the boys out to eat. When they are returning from their meal, they see that the abandoned church is on fire. Johnny and Ponyboy enter the church after hearing that there are several children trapped inside. Johnny and Ponyboy enter the burning building and beginning throwing children out of the church. After all the children are saved, Johnny attempts to escape the burning church, and a flaming ceiling beam falls on him. The beam ends up breaking Johnny's back. The doctors tell Johnny that he is paralyzed from the waist down, and Johnny fears for his life. After Johnny says some encouraging last words to Ponyboy, he dies as a result of his extensive injuries.