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recently aired a story about children who have survived gun violence in Chicago, focusing on the experience of 12-year-old Shirley Ryan ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌÃ91 patient Mekhi.
In 2019, Mekhi was 8 years old and attending a baby shower in Chicago¡¯s Englewood neighborhood when he was shot and paralyzed. According to WGN, Mekhi was one of 238 kids shot in Chicago that year.
Today, Mekhi is co-captain of the Shirley Ryan ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌÃ91 Megalodons adaptive swim team. The WGN report included the perspective of Megalodon head coach, Juliana Libertin, PT, senior physical therapist at Shirley Ryan ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌÃ91. Also featured in the story were Shirley Ryan ³Ô¹ÏÌìÌÃ91 team members Walter Guminiak, physical therapist assistant (the Megalodons¡¯ other head coach), and Kaitlin Barr, DPT, physical therapist (an assistant coach for the team).
¡°Mekhi has a very supportive family and I think his attitude ¡ª his work ethic ¡ª allow him to get through his own journey and allow him to succeed,¡± said Juliana.
Throughout the story, Mekhi¡¯s inspiring, positive attitude shone through.
¡°The first two weeks, Mama told me, ¡®It¡¯s going to be different, but we¡¯ll make it through,¡¯¡± he said.
