good evening next week we will be celebrating Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is
celebrating Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is
celebrating Thanksgiving Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because of
one of my favorite holidays because of
one of my favorite holidays because of the way that we spend time with our
the way that we spend time with our
the way that we spend time with our families eat delicious food and enjoy
families eat delicious food and enjoy
families eat delicious food and enjoy classic football games I just want to
classic football games I just want to
classic football games I just want to tell you guys about my things giving
tell you guys about my things giving
tell you guys about my things giving 2012 I was coming home from my aunts
2012 I was coming home from my aunts
2012 I was coming home from my aunts house from dinner we have just finished
house from dinner we have just finished
house from dinner we have just finished watching football and I was telling them
watching football and I was telling them
watching football and I was telling them how much I was so pumped up for my break
how much I was so pumped up for my break
how much I was so pumped up for my break because it was the first time I got a
because it was the first time I got a
because it was the first time I got a break from school from and from football
break from school from and from football
break from school from and from football practice I played football my sophomore
practice I played football my sophomore
practice I played football my sophomore year and I was the captain of my
year and I was the captain of my
year and I was the captain of my football team I worked really hard that
football team I worked really hard that
football team I worked really hard that season to be on varsity the next year
season to be on varsity the next year
season to be on varsity the next year when we got to my house it was my mom my
when we got to my house it was my mom my
when we got to my house it was my mom my brother and my mom’s ex-boyfriend and I
brother and my mom’s ex-boyfriend and I
brother and my mom’s ex-boyfriend and I in the car my mom’s ex-boyfriend got
in the car my mom’s ex-boyfriend got
in the car my mom’s ex-boyfriend got upset because of a cancel Black Friday
upset because of a cancel Black Friday
upset because of a cancel Black Friday trip and we only got off the car he was
trip and we only got off the car he was
trip and we only got off the car he was acting to come in the house my mother
acting to come in the house my mother
acting to come in the house my mother told him not tonight and that made him
told him not tonight and that made him
told him not tonight and that made him very angry and he became abusive he
very angry and he became abusive he
very angry and he became abusive he started to hit my mom and I was shocked
started to hit my mom and I was shocked
started to hit my mom and I was shocked that he was acting the way he did I came
that he was acting the way he did I came
that he was acting the way he did I came outside and I tried to control him who
outside and I tried to control him who
outside and I tried to control him who put him under control but he started
put him under control but he started
put him under control but he started getting more fired up and was saying a
getting more fired up and was saying a
getting more fired up and was saying a lot of things like imma kill y’all and
lot of things like imma kill y’all and
lot of things like imma kill y’all and you know he didn’t want us to be here
you know he didn’t want us to be here
you know he didn’t want us to be here anymore so my mom my brother called the
anymore so my mom my brother called the
anymore so my mom my brother called the police while I was outside trying to
police while I was outside trying to
police while I was outside trying to him down but he continued to get more
him down but he continued to get more
him down but he continued to get more worked up every minute I said to my mom
worked up every minute I said to my mom
worked up every minute I said to my mom that we would have to do something and
that we would have to do something and
that we would have to do something and do something fast before this thing gets
do something fast before this thing gets
do something fast before this thing gets out of hand when I was with when I was
out of hand when I was with when I was
out of hand when I was with when I was outside with him he was chasing me
outside with him he was chasing me
outside with him he was chasing me around his car and I was trying to avoid
around his car and I was trying to avoid
around his car and I was trying to avoid him just to kill time until the cops
him just to kill time until the cops
him just to kill time until the cops arrived but finally my mom called me in
arrived but finally my mom called me in
arrived but finally my mom called me in the house after she got off the phone
the house after she got off the phone
the house after she got off the phone with the police and I ran in as fast as
with the police and I ran in as fast as
with the police and I ran in as fast as I could
I could
I could not knowing what to expect after that I
not knowing what to expect after that I
not knowing what to expect after that I locked the door and I looked back in the
locked the door and I looked back in the
locked the door and I looked back in the living room to see if my mom my brother
living room to see if my mom my brother
living room to see if my mom my brother were ok they were sound in the living
were ok they were sound in the living
were ok they were sound in the living room and it seemed like everything was
room and it seemed like everything was
room and it seemed like everything was ok it was within a split second I heard
ok it was within a split second I heard
ok it was within a split second I heard loud noises outside of my door these
loud noises outside of my door these
loud noises outside of my door these noises were gunshots and I didn’t know
noises were gunshots and I didn’t know
noises were gunshots and I didn’t know that they were gunshots until I was shot
that they were gunshots until I was shot
that they were gunshots until I was shot in the stomach through the door I didn’t
in the stomach through the door I didn’t
in the stomach through the door I didn’t know what to what to do or what to say
know what to what to do or what to say
know what to what to do or what to say but the only thing I took I said was I
but the only thing I took I said was I
but the only thing I took I said was I told my mom and my brother to get down
told my mom and my brother to get down
told my mom and my brother to get down because he was shooting through the door
because he was shooting through the door
because he was shooting through the door I moved to the side and he came inside
I moved to the side and he came inside
I moved to the side and he came inside of the house he stormed inside of the
of the house he stormed inside of the
of the house he stormed inside of the house and went up to my mom and my
house and went up to my mom and my
house and went up to my mom and my brother and shot down I was still
brother and shot down I was still
brother and shot down I was still conscious and I saw this all I saw him
conscious and I saw this all I saw him
conscious and I saw this all I saw him shoot my my brother who was 10 at the
shoot my my brother who was 10 at the
shoot my my brother who was 10 at the time he came in and he shot me again as
time he came in and he shot me again as
time he came in and he shot me again as well I was there and I was begging him
well I was there and I was begging him
well I was there and I was begging him to stop but he continued to hit us with
to stop but he continued to hit us with
to stop but he continued to hit us with his firearm and stomp us while we were
his firearm and stomp us while we were
his firearm and stomp us while we were already down he fired more shots in the
already down he fired more shots in the
already down he fired more shots in the house and soon the police came this all
house and soon the police came this all
house and soon the police came this all lasted for maybe less than 10 minutes
lasted for maybe less than 10 minutes
lasted for maybe less than 10 minutes but this felt like forever I didn’t know
but this felt like forever I didn’t know
but this felt like forever I didn’t know what to thank us I was slowly becoming
what to thank us I was slowly becoming
what to thank us I was slowly becoming unconscious when he stopped me and my
unconscious when he stopped me and my
unconscious when he stopped me and my brother on the ground
brother on the ground
brother on the ground while we were down I woke up in the
while we were down I woke up in the
while we were down I woke up in the hospital the next day and I had no idea
hospital the next day and I had no idea
hospital the next day and I had no idea where my mom was when my brother was and
where my mom was when my brother was and
where my mom was when my brother was and I had no idea what to think about what
I had no idea what to think about what
I had no idea what to think about what he did this was a really crazy
he did this was a really crazy
he did this was a really crazy experience because when I finally the
experience because when I finally the
experience because when I finally the only thing I could ask was it’s my mom
only thing I could ask was it’s my mom
only thing I could ask was it’s my mom alive is my brother alive I didn’t see
alive is my brother alive I didn’t see
alive is my brother alive I didn’t see them for a couple days and that ran me
them for a couple days and that ran me
them for a couple days and that ran me more crazy than the actual gunshots I
more crazy than the actual gunshots I
more crazy than the actual gunshots I had sustained from that night just not
had sustained from that night just not
had sustained from that night just not knowing what my family were and were
knowing what my family were and were
knowing what my family were and were they gonna be okay because I thought in
they gonna be okay because I thought in
they gonna be okay because I thought in my head that I was gonna be okay because
my head that I was gonna be okay because
my head that I was gonna be okay because I never try to think negatively about
I never try to think negatively about
I never try to think negatively about anything but I didn’t I didn’t know
anything but I didn’t I didn’t know
anything but I didn’t I didn’t know because especially my brother he was so
because especially my brother he was so
because especially my brother he was so young at the time I didn’t know what to
young at the time I didn’t know what to
young at the time I didn’t know what to think about that this was a very dark
think about that this was a very dark
think about that this was a very dark time for me but since then I’ve turned
time for me but since then I’ve turned
time for me but since then I’ve turned it around and I’ve tried to do my best
it around and I’ve tried to do my best
it around and I’ve tried to do my best to make everything the best I can and
to make everything the best I can and
to make everything the best I can and deal with it and make the best of what I
deal with it and make the best of what I
deal with it and make the best of what I have I was in the hospital for three
have I was in the hospital for three
have I was in the hospital for three months and had ten surgeries and with
months and had ten surgeries and with
months and had ten surgeries and with that I had my leg amputated above the
that I had my leg amputated above the
that I had my leg amputated above the knee once I had my leg amputated I had
knee once I had my leg amputated I had
knee once I had my leg amputated I had to relearn how to walk how to keep my
to relearn how to walk how to keep my
to relearn how to walk how to keep my balance and I had to train my muscles
balance and I had to train my muscles
balance and I had to train my muscles all over again and just just to even get
all over again and just just to even get
all over again and just just to even get back to school and do my schoolwork in
back to school and do my schoolwork in
back to school and do my schoolwork in school I was on homebound for about six
school I was on homebound for about six
school I was on homebound for about six months but I came back to school and I
months but I came back to school and I
months but I came back to school and I passed my sophomore year and I was
passed my sophomore year and I was
passed my sophomore year and I was trying to come back to play football
trying to come back to play football
trying to come back to play football that same year I was training with
that same year I was training with
that same year I was training with physical therapy
physical therapy
physical therapy getting my gate back to the way I wanted
getting my gate back to the way I wanted
getting my gate back to the way I wanted it to be in that soon Bennet learned how
it to be in that soon Bennet learned how
it to be in that soon Bennet learned how to run I appreciated the fact that I
to run I appreciated the fact that I
to run I appreciated the fact that I could get up and walk again after I got
could get up and walk again after I got
could get up and walk again after I got my prosthetic leg because I know how it
my prosthetic leg because I know how it
my prosthetic leg because I know how it felt to not be able to walk for so long
felt to not be able to walk for so long
felt to not be able to walk for so long to be on crutches and have to hop
to be on crutches and have to hop
to be on crutches and have to hop instead of actually using two feet to
instead of actually using two feet to
instead of actually using two feet to walk when my mom and when we were in the
walk when my mom and when we were in the
walk when my mom and when we were in the hospital this my mom would come to each
hospital this my mom would come to each
hospital this my mom would come to each room and go back and forth to see my
room and go back and forth to see my
room and go back and forth to see my brother and I and my family had to stay
brother and I and my family had to stay
brother and I and my family had to stay super strong just to keep my my spirits
super strong just to keep my my spirits
super strong just to keep my my spirits up through this time the only time that
up through this time the only time that
up through this time the only time that I knew everything was going to be okay
I knew everything was going to be okay
I knew everything was going to be okay it’s on on this picture when my brother
it’s on on this picture when my brother
it’s on on this picture when my brother and I got the first time we saw each
and I got the first time we saw each
and I got the first time we saw each other after the incident and I looked at
other after the incident and I looked at
other after the incident and I looked at him and I told him it was gonna be okay
him and I told him it was gonna be okay
him and I told him it was gonna be okay and he said it was gonna be okay and
and he said it was gonna be okay and
and he said it was gonna be okay and after that I had no doubt in my mind
after that I had no doubt in my mind
after that I had no doubt in my mind that we would make a miraculous comeback
that we would make a miraculous comeback
that we would make a miraculous comeback to be two really outstanding kids I
graduated on time from Thomas Dale High
graduated on time from Thomas Dale High School and I’m now really blessed to say
School and I’m now really blessed to say
School and I’m now really blessed to say that I’m a sophomore in college and I’m
that I’m a sophomore in college and I’m
that I’m a sophomore in college and I’m on this stage and it’s just a blessing
on this stage and it’s just a blessing
on this stage and it’s just a blessing to be here today talking to York talking
to be here today talking to York talking
to be here today talking to York talking to you about what’s happened because I
to you about what’s happened because I
to you about what’s happened because I know I could have been not here to tell
know I could have been not here to tell
know I could have been not here to tell this story and there was a slim chance
this story and there was a slim chance
this story and there was a slim chance of survival for us but we made it
of survival for us but we made it
of survival for us but we made it through I went to Connecticut over the
through I went to Connecticut over the
through I went to Connecticut over the summer and I didn’t know what to expect
summer and I didn’t know what to expect
summer and I didn’t know what to expect my first time getting on a plane over my
my first time getting on a plane over my
my first time getting on a plane over my first time going to camp No Limits which
first time going to camp No Limits which
first time going to camp No Limits which is a camp for amputees at camp No Limits
is a camp for amputees at camp No Limits
is a camp for amputees at camp No Limits amputees team up with physical therapy
amputees team up with physical therapy
amputees team up with physical therapy students
students
students to learn new ways of doing daily life
to learn new ways of doing daily life
to learn new ways of doing daily life activities such as walking running doing
activities such as walking running doing
activities such as walking running doing certain stuff that amputees never
certain stuff that amputees never
certain stuff that amputees never imagined that they would have the power
imagined that they would have the power
imagined that they would have the power to do this was a great experience for me
to do this was a great experience for me
to do this was a great experience for me because I learned that being at camp no
because I learned that being at camp no
because I learned that being at camp no limits there there is no limits you have
limits there there is no limits you have
limits there there is no limits you have the power to do anything you put your
the power to do anything you put your
the power to do anything you put your mind to and nobody can stop you no
mind to and nobody can stop you no
mind to and nobody can stop you no matter what you have or what you go
matter what you have or what you go
matter what you have or what you go through it’s just you have to have that
through it’s just you have to have that
through it’s just you have to have that self the self motivation to step over
self the self motivation to step over
self the self motivation to step over any hurdle that comes in your path
any hurdle that comes in your path
any hurdle that comes in your path I believe I found out that I wanted to
I believe I found out that I wanted to
I believe I found out that I wanted to pursue my career in physical therapy
pursue my career in physical therapy
pursue my career in physical therapy after coming from camp No Limits I had a
after coming from camp No Limits I had a
after coming from camp No Limits I had a partner that I was working with he was
partner that I was working with he was
partner that I was working with he was younger than me about my little
younger than me about my little
younger than me about my little brother’s age and I was teaching him
brother’s age and I was teaching him
brother’s age and I was teaching him some things that I had learned from
some things that I had learned from
some things that I had learned from physical therapy and we were playing
physical therapy and we were playing
physical therapy and we were playing basketball he told me he loved
basketball he told me he loved
basketball he told me he loved basketball and I taught him how to shoot
basketball and I taught him how to shoot
basketball and I taught him how to shoot and dribble between his legs and he was
and dribble between his legs and he was
and dribble between his legs and he was really proud to say that he learned that
really proud to say that he learned that
really proud to say that he learned that so at the end of camp we had a session
so at the end of camp we had a session
so at the end of camp we had a session saying what was your favorite part of
saying what was your favorite part of
saying what was your favorite part of camp
camp
camp and when it was his time he told camp
and when it was his time he told camp
and when it was his time he told camp that his favorite part of camp was
that his favorite part of camp was
that his favorite part of camp was meeting Corrales that was awesome for me
meeting Corrales that was awesome for me
meeting Corrales that was awesome for me and I would love to impact people’s
and I would love to impact people’s
and I would love to impact people’s lives in that same way and that’s why I
lives in that same way and that’s why I
lives in that same way and that’s why I am studying to be a physical therapist
am studying to be a physical therapist
am studying to be a physical therapist now in college when I went to
now in college when I went to
now in college when I went to Connecticut we play sled hockey and it
Connecticut we play sled hockey and it
Connecticut we play sled hockey and it was my first time playing adaptive
was my first time playing adaptive
was my first time playing adaptive sports I didn’t give up on playing
sports I didn’t give up on playing
sports I didn’t give up on playing sports after I didn’t play football
sports after I didn’t play football
sports after I didn’t play football anymore
anymore
anymore because I know that I was given
because I know that I was given
because I know that I was given talents for a reason but it did what it
talents for a reason but it did what it
talents for a reason but it did what it just wasn’t to be in the National
just wasn’t to be in the National
just wasn’t to be in the National Football League now I play adaptive
Football League now I play adaptive
Football League now I play adaptive sports and when I learned how to play
sports and when I learned how to play
sports and when I learned how to play sled hockey it was my first time ever
sled hockey it was my first time ever
sled hockey it was my first time ever playing adaptive sports we had we had an
playing adaptive sports we had we had an
playing adaptive sports we had we had an arena with ice and we get on we get on
arena with ice and we get on we get on
arena with ice and we get on we get on the sled and use two sticks one you
the sled and use two sticks one you
the sled and use two sticks one you would be able to maneuver around the ice
would be able to maneuver around the ice
would be able to maneuver around the ice with it’s at the it’s ice picks at the
with it’s at the it’s ice picks at the
with it’s at the it’s ice picks at the end of that your sticks so you stick
end of that your sticks so you stick
end of that your sticks so you stick those in the ice and you push it as hard
those in the ice and you push it as hard
those in the ice and you push it as hard as you can to let the sled slide on the
as you can to let the sled slide on the
as you can to let the sled slide on the ice and on the other side you have your
ice and on the other side you have your
ice and on the other side you have your pup your stick when you hit the pup when
pup your stick when you hit the pup when
pup your stick when you hit the pup when I learned how to play sled hockey they
I learned how to play sled hockey they
I learned how to play sled hockey they told me that I wasn’t natural and that I
told me that I wasn’t natural and that I
told me that I wasn’t natural and that I should pursue playing sled hockey when I
should pursue playing sled hockey when I
should pursue playing sled hockey when I went back home I tried that but that
went back home I tried that but that
went back home I tried that but that didn’t work out either because in
didn’t work out either because in
didn’t work out either because in Richmond we don’t have a sled hockey
Richmond we don’t have a sled hockey
Richmond we don’t have a sled hockey team that was home something I could
team that was home something I could
team that was home something I could only experience in New England so I’ll
only experience in New England so I’ll
only experience in New England so I’ll be going back for that but now I’ve
be going back for that but now I’ve
be going back for that but now I’ve started to play wheelchair basketball
started to play wheelchair basketball
started to play wheelchair basketball just a month ago I started my career
just a month ago I started my career
just a month ago I started my career playing wheelchair basketball and I’ve
playing wheelchair basketball and I’ve
playing wheelchair basketball and I’ve already been promoted to play for the
already been promoted to play for the
already been promoted to play for the national wheelchair basketball
national wheelchair basketball
national wheelchair basketball association to pay for the ritual
association to pay for the ritual
association to pay for the ritual [Applause]
I play on the Richmond rim riders and
I play on the Richmond rim riders and after my first tournament today I scored
after my first tournament today I scored
after my first tournament today I scored my first bucket so who everyone so that
my first bucket so who everyone so that
my first bucket so who everyone so that was a big win for me and to be here it’s
was a big win for me and to be here it’s
was a big win for me and to be here it’s just an extreme blessing for me so I
just an extreme blessing for me so I
just an extreme blessing for me so I just want to say that sometimes in life
just want to say that sometimes in life
just want to say that sometimes in life we face obstacles but you never know
we face obstacles but you never know
we face obstacles but you never know where we’ll have the opportunity to turn
where we’ll have the opportunity to turn
where we’ll have the opportunity to turn once we get over that obstacle and go to
once we get over that obstacle and go to
once we get over that obstacle and go to something else and if another obstacle
something else and if another obstacle
something else and if another obstacle comes your way you just have to knock it
comes your way you just have to knock it
comes your way you just have to knock it out and finish the race
[Applause]
[Applause] I think we just need to take a moment to
I think we just need to take a moment to
I think we just need to take a moment to commend you on your bravery can we get
commend you on your bravery can we get
commend you on your bravery can we get one more hand farmer
one more hand farmer
one more hand farmer [Applause]
”
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