Donate to Nick's Medical and Relocation Needs

Sunday night, Jan. 5th at 6:30, I picked up my 19-year-old son Nick from work. We got home and sat down to talk about our day. I had told him that his best friend was not being allowed back at our house for a while. He got mad and went to bed early. It was about 8 p.m. when I got ready for bed, locked the doors, and went upstairs to bed. I was just dozing off when I heard noises like kicking and hitting the wall. I thought it was him acting out, so I yelled, "Cut it out." It didn’t stop, so I got up to look out my bedroom door. As I started to pull the door back, I saw two males in my hallway. One grabbed my door handle, looked at me, then told me to get down low and stay down as he pulled the door shut. Just before it closed, I saw the shot fired at my son’s door beside him. I panicked and got down for just a brief moment. I heard another shot fired, and then it got quiet. I opened my door to check on Nick, who was across the hall from me. I couldn’t get in because it was locked. I started talking to Nick, asking him if he was okay. I told him to unlock the door. He said he couldn’t, so I asked why and told him I needed him to so that I could check on him. He told me he was on the floor and couldn’t move. I panicked but told him to do whatever it took to make it happen, or I wasn’t gonna be able to help him. He managed to reach up to unlock the door. I had to push him away so I could get in to him. As I entered the room, I noticed he was hurt because of the blood on his face, shoulder, and arm. I called 911, told them what happened, and I needed help now!! He was shot through the door. The bullet went through his left arm near the shoulder, causing nerve and tendon damage as well as a broken humerus. It traveled through both lungs, hitting his T6 and T7 vertebrae, then landed on his diaphragm. That has him immobile from the ribs down. Thankfully, it missed his aorta and his spinal cord! I’m so glad he locked his door that night when he went to bed! And he’s still with me!!!

If you know me, then you know I still have health issues of my own which limit me at times. All of this is so overwhelming and stressful. I’m trying to stay strong and focused for my child. As a single parent, I am fully having to rely on God and other people right now. I can’t thank those of you enough who’ve been there for me and Nick. There has been no arrest or resolve for this hateful crime that makes no sense. Nick and I both are sure it was his best friend's boyfriend. She mentioned he was mad because she had spent time with my son that weekend. Nick heard them talking when they broke in my back door. I don’t feel safe even in my own home or neighborhood area. Neither of us think we can live in that home any longer. Not just for the trauma of what happened but also because he is now in a wheelchair and it won’t accommodate his needs. Our residency is not functional for such with stairs or limited space. Our lives changed so much, so quickly!! Nick will need full care for at least six to eighteen months. I know prayers work, and so I’m asking for them to continue not only for Nick but also for our whole situation. So many unknowns and uncertainty.

We are fundraising to help cover the costs of relocating to a more accessible home and to support Nick's medical and care needs during his recovery.

This fundraiser is for my son, Nick, who was severely injured in a shooting and now requires extensive medical care and a more accessible living environment.