A Basketball Player's Dream Derailed Because of a Senseless Crime

Brandon Savage is a 21 year old young man who was seriously injured in a tragic shooting on May 22, 2010 in Philadelphia. A promising basketball player, he was an innocent bystander caught in the crossfire. Brandon was shot twice; one bullet entered and shattered his spine. Because of this senseless crime, Brandon is now quadriplegic. Brandon was born in Philadelphia to a big loving family. He was baptized at Greater Faith Baptist Church in Philadelphia where he was a member of the youth ministry, junior trustee and played the drums for the mass choir. While in middle school he developed a love for the game of basketball which led to a championship for his school in 2004. Upon his graduation from Cardinal Dougherty High School, Brandon was awarded a full basketball scholarship to Wilmington University where he was majoring in Sports Management. Brandon’s dream was to play on the professional level after graduating and then continue his career in the sports field. Brandon’s dreams were violently derailed by the shooting. He spent a month in the Intensive Care Unit at Albert Einstein Medical Center before being transferred to Magee Rehab Hospital for the next six months. Upon discharge, Brandon had a health setback that caused him to be readmitted to the hospital on several occasions. It has not been an easy road but he is a true fighter. Through all he has endured, Brandon remains the “Gentle Giant” we have always known – humble, kind and smiling through the pain. Brandon is now home with his family and making plans to go back to college to pursue his degree in Sports Management. He is presently going to outpatient therapy, trying to regain as much strength and mobility as possible. During a typical week he attends therapy, doctor’s appointments and church with his family. His mode of transportation is para-transit and it is unreliable. Due to the nature of Brandon’s injury, it is critical that he have access to his rigorous therapies. Any delays or missed appointments result in slower progress towards his goals. There is a crucial need for better transportation that will be reliable and provide greater mobility and independence for Brandon. Because of Brandon’s size and stature a fully accessible van can be as much as $100,000. To assist with this expense, a fundraising campaign has been established with Help Hope Live. Help Hope Live is a non profit organization that has been assisting the transplant community and catastrophically injured community for more than 28 years. All contributions are tax-deductible and are administered only for injury related expenses.

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