Daniel Min Photography

Defying the odds: Edward's Journey

Edward Miller, 16, was shot five times by another 16-year-old while he was walking his sister home from a birthday party in Richmond, Virginia. Edward, who barely escaped alive, was paralyzed from the waist down as a result of the shooting. One random crime - one moment of violence - can forever change the life of the victim and everyone around him. 

The video of Edward's journey - https://vimeo.com/123878877 

  • Edward Miller looks on his sister, Shakiria Miller, and cousin, David Grady, 3, at his home. Edward was shot five times by another 16-year-old, with unknown reason, while walking home with his sister, Shakiria Miller, from a birthday party.  {quote}First time, I got a little shook-up. Second time, I hit the ground. Out of breath, pleading for my life,{quote} Edward said of the shooting.
  • Lawanda Booker and her son, Edward Miller spent time at their home in Richmond. One of the difficulties for Edward after being shot is that he needs to spend most of his time at his home for medical issues. He used to be very active and outgoing boy.
  • This is the last photo of Edward, standing on his two feet. Edward had taken this photo two days before he was shot five times by another 16-year-old on a South Richmond street.
  • Edward Miller rests as he has been having sleeping issues at night since the shooting. “It (the shooting) changed a few plans,” Edward said of his wish about being a professional football player. “I was planning on doing that so I can help my mom out because she has been struggling all her life.”
  • Edward gets emotional as his neighbor Kyrone Broyles says, {quote}don't give up your hope.{quote} Broyles, a New York native, had to leave his home town, Harlem, after he was shot five times when he was a teenager. Broyles encouraged Edward not to give up hope and dream.
  • Dexter Tillery lifts up his cousin Edward Miller taking a shower. Simply using a bathroom for Edward is a challenging task for the family. “Everything now is much slower. You have to wait a lot of time on other people’s time,” Edward said of being helped on his daily activities.
  • Daily activities, such as taking a shower or using a bathroom, are constant struggles for Edward after the shooting. He was shot five times and paralyzed from his waist down, which caused many medical issues such as curved spine and skin infections on his heel. Edward took a shower but tried not to get wet on his heel.
  • Lawanda Booker cheers up his son, Edward Miller, as they are ready to head to Philadelphia for Edward's spinal fusion surgery. “We have good days and we have bad days. But you always got to figure out away to get through today,” Edward said.
  • Rosalyn Blowe, an instructor of George Wythe High School, teaches Edward Miller of algebra at Edward's home. Edward receives his education at his home with a homebound education service from Richmond Public Schools.
  • Edward gets his physical therapy from Lindsay Derenthal, a physical therapist, at Sheltering Arms Physical Rehabilitation Centers, in Richmond. As Edward's waist down is paralyzed by gun shots, his posture is unbalanced by weak muscle.
  • X-Ray of Edward shows his curved spine with a bullet at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia. Edward was shot five times by another 16-year-old and paralyzed from his waist down.
  • Open wounds on Edward's feet are examined by Kim Curran, center, a registered nurse and care coordinator, Dr. Mark Solomon, a plastic surgeon, and Dr. Connie Domingo, a pediatric physical medicine & rehabilitation physician, at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia. Edward's feet have opened wounds by pressure from his bones as gunshots paralyzed Edward from the waist down. After doctors’ concern of the infection, Edward has to stay at the hospital until he finds proper open wound cares back home in Richmond.
  • Edward prays with his mother, Lawanda Booker, standing next to Edward, during a church service at Crusade for Christ Christian Church Ministries in Richmond. Edward often recites the note from his sister, Shakiria Miller, 'God gives his hardest battles to his strongest warriors.' {quote}That's what got me through physical therapy, those hard days and me passing out and stuff like that. That's what got me through that hard time,{quote} Edward said of the note.
  • Edward, left, and Andre Seabrook, show off what they can do with their wheelchairs as Edward visits his friend, Andre, in Richmond. They met each other at VCU rehabilitation center as they both were shots on the same day but not related crimes, which caused paralysis for both from their waist down. “When I heard his story, it made me feel better about my story. So I won’t be the only one going through my situation, “Edward said of Andre.
  • Edward plays Xbox basketball game at his home in Richmond. Edward likes to play the game as this is only way he can feel like playing sports, which he loves. His mom, Lawanda Booker, said that he used to be very outgoing and athletic kid but his medical issues keep him inside.
  • Edward exercises with the help of Rodney Debro, a neighbor, at Debro's backyard in Richmond. To prepare his spinal fusion surgery, Edward tried to lose his weight and build the muscle.
  • Edward pushes himself to home after his workout at his neighbor's home in Richmond. To prepare his spine surgery, Edward tried to lose his weight and build the muscle.
  • Edward sleeps as he leaves Richmond at 5 a.m. heading to Philadelphia to be checked for a skin infection, one of many medical issues, he has. He got a ride from volunteers of ACCA Temple of Richmond to Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia. Edward's feet have opened wounds by pressure from his bones as gunshots paralyzed Edward from the waist down.
  • Edward, center, arrives Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia for his spinal fusion surgery to treat his curved spine. Doctors planed to correct Edward’s curved spine, which caused by pressure from his weight after being paralyzed by the shooting.
  • Edward Miller sends a text message to his girlfriend while waiting for his spinal fusion surgery at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia.
  • Lawanda Booker listens carefully to Joshua Pahys, an orthopaedic surgeon, about Edward’s spinal fusion surgery at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia.
  • Lawanda Booker waits as her son, Edward Miller, goes through 13-hour spinal fusion surgery to treat his curved spine at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia. As Booker has to take care of Edward's medical issues and other needs, she has to stop working her job as a taxi driver, which caused difficult financial issues for the family.
  • Lawanda Booker compares before (right) and after X-ray photos of Edward's spinal fusion surgery at Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia. A bullet on Edward's spine was also removed during the surgery. The hospital provided the surgery and other medical needs to Edward without a financial obligation.
  • Lawanda Booker sees her son Edward for the first time after 13-hour spinal fusion surgery as Edward recovers at the intensive care unit of Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia. “My mom, she is very strong. She does everything on her own. She is very strong woman,” Edward said later.
  • Lawanda Booker kisses her son, Edward, as she sees Edward for the first time after 13-hour spinal fusion surgery at the intensive care unit of Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia. {quote}My mom, she is very strong. She does everything on her own. She is very strong woman‚{quote}Edward said later.
  • Lawanda Booker is upset because she can't do much for Edward, who recovers from spinal fusion surgery to treat his curved spine at the intensive care unit of Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia.
  • Lawanda Booker is upset because she can't do much for Edward, who recovers from spinal fusion surgery to treat his curved spine at the intensive care unit of Shriners Hospitals for Children in Philadelphia.
  • Mallory Meyer, a physical therapist, explains to Edward Miller how to use a motorized wheelchair as Edward has to depend on the wheelchair next 6-month recovery period after his spinal fusion surgery.
  • Edward lies down and watches TV as he tries to steer his attention away from pain after his spinal fusion surgery. He has to be careful not to use his spine during his 6-month recovery period after the surgery.
  • Edward and his mom, Lawanda Booker, share a smile on Edward's 18th birthday at their home in Richmond. Lawanda said she is grateful for God that Edward made his 18th birthday after all of struggles after the shooting. Booker said, ‚ {quote}Today is a day of celebration for me and Edward.{quote}
  • Edward helps his cousin, Desten Grady, 8, practice football near his home in Richmond. “I’m defying odds, right now. I wasn’t supposed to be living. After taking five shots, all the places I took them in, I’m not supposed to be here,” Edward said, “I’m just doing everything keep myself up and doing everything keep going. I don’t wanna be fall back. I don’t wanna back track. I wanna keep going forward.”
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