Lathan Street

Lathan is an 18 year old graduating senior who had realistic, tangible and concrete plans to become a responsible citizen of the community. The cliché that “life changes in an instant” became Lathan’s reality. While attending a “local rappers” concert in support of his cousins and friends, Lathan became the innocent bystander victim of a senseless act of violence being struck in the back by a single bullet that pierced his spinal cord. Right now he is experiencing paralysis from the waist down, but prayerfully that will change.

Lathan and his mother/family are facing an uphill battle. Lathan is awaiting transfer possibly next week to the Touro Rehabilitation Center in New Orleans, La. where he will spend 4 intense weeks of therapy to hopefully regain movement and to learn to adapt to life in this state. In the meantime, Lathan and his mother live in an old family house that has no ADA accommodations that are needed before Lathan can come home. They will need a ramp, all doorways widened, the bathroom reconfigured to fit a walk-in shower, and floors reinforced to handle the weight of Lathan plus a wheelchair especially in his back room/barbershop.

Yes, Lathan is an up and coming barber who was planning to go to barber school in the fall to become licensed. He already has a big clientele and was slowly setting up their extra room as his shop. We are doing all we can to make Lathan realize that he can still cut hair with the help of an exoskeleton or stand up chair.

All of these accommodations and equipment will be far too expensive for his single mother who is a teacher. Any and all contributions are welcome and greatly appreciated.