Shot on the Fourth of July

James Lathan Jr. with his son James III

"My son, James Lathan Jr. was injured in the war in Iraq, July 4, 2004. He is paralyzed from the neck down. He is 29 years old. I have high hopes that he will walk again." So begins a mother's letter to the PRC requesting help and information.

James was hit in the back of his neck by stray shrapnel from a mortar round. The wounded vet recalls the moment. "I heard the mortar from behind me. The blast knocked me over."

James is now a retired veteran with a C3 level spinal cord injury, ventilator-dependent. He lives at home in Nebraska with his wife and son. James took advantage of all the services offered by the VA but he's not satisfied; he believes there is more recovery ahead.

Armed with information sent to the family by an information specialist at the PRC, James was booked in to the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore, MD for specialized restorative exercises, including riding a bicycle using functional electrical stimulation (FES).

Doctors at Krieger worked with James to improve his head control and worked with his arm and shoulder mobility. "I was able to move my arm a bit. Since muscle groups are connected, I think it was due to my shoulder being freed up," says James, "I thoroughly enjoyed it. I'm trying to find a way to go down there and stay awhile."

His mom, Alisa Frieson, feels that sometimes you have to go outside the system to get the extra help you need. "It's just so expensive. To get to the Institute, he has to fly there, and his wife and caretaker. There's the hotel, food. It just gets so expensive." 

After James returned home, Alisa and her husband did some fundraising. The community responded. "One church gave him a van with a lift. One offered to build him a home," she says, "I just appreciate that people showed their support and appreciation."

Meanwhile, James works hard to keep his mind on the things he can do rather than on the things he can't. "I believe where your mind goes, your body follows," he says. One area of interest has been investment banking. He'd like to make some money.

"One day there may be a cure and if it takes money, then hopefully I'll have enough to make it happen. And, you can always help your family."

As of 2008
James is living at home with his family in Nebraska.  He is trying to find a way back to the Kennedy Krieger Institute to continue with his recovery work. He continues to learn as much as he can about banking.