Isaiah Bryant and Gavin Smith are survivors of senseless gun violence, left paralyzed by their injuries. But they refuse to accept defeat. Together, they fight every day to defy the odds and walk again—and with your help, they just might.

Their Journey

Isaiah’s Story

Isaiah, a 26-year-old father of three, was shot eight times in June 2023 as a bystander. A bullet shattered his T10 vertebrae, leaving him paralyzed. Doctors told him he would never walk again.

But Isaiah refuses to accept that fate. Motivated by his children, he pushes through intensive rehabilitation every day. With HTGR’s support, he has regained some sensation in his legs and is using a walker and braces to simulate walking—an uncommon milestone this early in recovery. With continued therapy and his next stem cell treatment, Isaiah is determined to walk again.

Gavin’s Story

Gavin was shot in the spine while protecting his younger brother during a robbery, leaving him paralyzed. Like Isaiah, he was told he’d never walk again.

But Gavin refuses to let his injuries define him. He lost insurance due to a “lack of immediate progress” but kept fighting. In 2022, HTGR stepped in, ensuring he could access 3-5 therapy sessions weekly.

Since then, Gavin has regained bladder function, muscle memory, and now walks with a cane—something once thought impossible. Three years post-injury, he continues making progress.

We Are A Family, Not Just A Team

Isaiah and Gavin push each other daily, proving recovery isn’t just an individual fight—it’s a shared battle.

At their request, all funds raised are shared equally, ensuring they both receive the best recovery resources available. Some stories gain more attention than others, but they stand together—and so do we.

Funding Their Future

So far, we’ve funded: ✅ 1+ year of therapy for Isaiah ✅ 2+ years of therapy for Gavin ✅ $25,000 in supplemental care, including stem cell treatments and specialized equipment ✅ Thousands of hours of therapy sessions

🚨 Goal: Secure 3-5 more years of therapy—$60,000 annually. 🚨

Join the Fight

Isaiah and Gavin have already defied expectations. With your help, they can go even further. 

Every donation funds therapy, treatments, and interventions that give them their best shot at walking again.

No one should have their ability to walk stolen by gun violence—without a chance to fight back.

Donate now. Change their future.