Support Kalisha Pettus: Heal and Thrive Chicago

Hello, my name is Kalisha Pettus, and I’m the founder of Heal and Thrive Chicago — a nonprofit born from my own survival story.

On April 29, 2024, I was shot five times by the younger brother of someone I called my best friend for nearly three decades. I survived, but my life was forever changed.

I suffered deep lacerations to my liver, kidney removal of my left kidney, damage to my duodenum, holes in my intestines, and two critical injuries to my aorta, which ultimately led to the amputation of my left leg above the knee. I also developed blood clots and other major organ and artery damage.

Before the shooting, I was a working citizen earning a livable wage, standing on my own two feet, rebuilding my life after past mistakes, staying healthy through CrossFit, and giving back to my community.

But in an instant, my entire reality was taken away.

Too often, survivors like me—young people in their 20s and 30s—find themselves disabled overnight by gun violence. And what happens next? Many are forced into homelessness, shelters, or even nursing homes far too young because the programs that are supposed to help us—victim compensation, disability benefits, accessible housing—are underfunded, disorganized, and broken.

When I came home, I was met with denial after denial. I applied for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) — denied. I applied for Crime Victim Compensation through the Emergency Supplemental Victims Funds— denied. I reached out to local victim services programs, caseworkers, and emergency relief funds — no help.

In Chicago alone, thousands of shooting survivors face these impossible obstacles every year. And when the headlines fade, so do the promises of help. We are left to navigate endless paperwork, denials, closed doors, and silence while we try to heal and survive with no income, no transportation, and no consistent care.

That’s why I created Heal and Thrive Chicago. Our mission is simple but critical:

To support disabled survivors of gun violence with adaptive fitness, wellness, and mental health programs

To provide practical help like transportation, home wellness kits, and mobility equipment

To partner with local gyms, hospitals, and community spaces for accessible healing

To be a real support system—one that shows up long after the news cameras are gone.

This GoFundMe will help us:

✔ Cover nonprofit registration and legal fees

✔ Build a basic website and outreach materials

✔ Provide wellness supplies for newly disabled survivors

✔ Fund gym partnerships for adaptive fitness classes

✔ Offer transportation and daily living support for those who need it most

Surviving should never mean being abandoned. It should mean being supported, seen, and empowered to heal.

Your support today helps us fill the gap that the broken systems have left behind. Please donate, share, and stand with us to turn trauma into true healing—so that survivors like me can do more than just live. We can heal and thrive together.

With faith and gratitude,

Kalisha Pettus

Founder, Heal and Thrive Chicago