Paralyzed student receives an outpouring of support after accident

Justin Graham is the survivor of a recent scooter accident that has left him with a severe spinal injury and the recipient of an outpouring of support from friends and community alike.

Graham, a Georgia State student, was leaving work at the Vortex Little Five Points for his home in East Atlanta the night of his accident on March 16. According to police reports, his scooter hit a metal plate on Flat Shoals Road, causing the incident. There were no other vehicles involved. 

Justin’s friends and family responded immediately after they heard he had been transported to Grady Memorial Hospital.

“It’s going to be a very long, painful journey,” said his friend, Lindsay Wilson. “We are just trying to support him as much as possible.”

Shortly after the accident, Wilson and friends started an online fundraiser for Graham, who is uninsured. There were unexpected results. One week after the fundraiser began, its $10,000 goal doubled. Funds have now surpassed $27,000.

Wilson grew up with Graham in Mississippi, and though she lives in New Orleans, she felt she had to do something to help Graham, who is a recent divorcee and the sole provider for his 1-year-old daughter, Millie.

“He’s going to have an insurmountable amount of bills to pay, and he can’t really do that,” said friend and band mate Sam Graham. “The purpose of our fundraising efforts, if anything else, is to help with his daughter, with his child support and giving Millie the life that she deserves.”

Sam Graham explained that doctors gave him the worst news he’d ever heard in his life: Justin was diagnosed with a severed spine. Later, doctors found that Justin’s spine was not completely severed but stretched.  However, the short-term implications would be the same: paralysis below the injury.

“My sister gave me the devastating call that Saturday evening and I was at Grady within 10 minutes,” said Kathy Carlisle, Graham’s sister-in-law.

“The doctor said there is a chance that he will regain feeling and/or some use of his legs,” Sam Graham said of Graham’s long-term recovery.  “We’re obviously praying for a miracle, but I don’t think he’ll have a full recovery from this. The doctors are hopeful.”

Carlisle said Graham was transported as planned to the Shepard Center to begin his one month rehabilitation on March 27, with a minor setback: pus had accumulated in his lungs.

“He was admitted to Piedmont Hospital on March 28 for a procedure to remove the fluid in his lungs,” Carlisle said. “We are hopeful he will be back at The Shepard Center in a day or so. I believe he is eager to begin therapy.”

Sam Graham is hoping for a way Graham can get his life back.

“My hope for him is that he can find a way to live life as fully as he was before his accident,” Sam Graham said. “It’s been overwhelming the amount of support we’ve received.”

For Wilson, Graham’s injuries mean a lifetime of challenges, so support will be necessary.

“Justin is facing the possibility of permanent disability, and not having a lot of work options,” Wilson said. “He and his daughter are going to need lifelong care.”

Financial support is now a crucial element in Graham’s life. Graham has a long road ahead, but friends remain positive in regard to his future.

“He has definitely overcome obstacles in his life, and never necessarily had a lot of things other kids had when we were growing up, but Justin always had an extremely positive attitude,” Wilson said. “All in all, for someone who’s always loved life, he’s always been incredibly strong, that is one of the reasons that I do believe he’s going to get through this.”

To follow updates about Graham, go to his official Facebook page.