Keith is my nephew… and he is my hero!

The proceeds from the sale of these products go to help enrich his life & help with medical expenses.

"I often refer back to his sad story to help put things back in perspective with my own life. This is a reminder for all of us to not take our good health for granted. Live each and everyday to its fullest. Find your niche to help the needy and less fortunate. Many thanks to you all for making this possible."
- Deiadra Phelps – Owner Soap & Spa Essentials

Hello, my name is Keith and this is my story…

I was a normal 24 year old young man. I went to work everyday to provide for my two children. On December 5th, 2001 that all changed. I had gotten off from work early that day because we ran out of materials for the job we were doing. So I came home, showered, and went to my friends house. It was myself, my friend, his girlfriend, and another friend. We decided to go up the street to the store. I had a small maroon car, and where I was parked, was another small maroon car very similar to mine.

When we left to go to the store, these gang members thought we were the guys from the other maroon car, who I guess they were after, and they ambushed us and shot up my car. I was shot in the spine and paralyzed and my friends girlfriend was shot in the head and died. The bullet I was shot with remains lodged very close to my heart, so it cannot be removed because it would be too risky. 

My kidneys were damaged so I have to use a catheter to urinate. I can't urinate normally. The bullet also damaged some of my intestines and they had to be removed. All in all I'm lucky to be alive. But the thing I thank God for the most is that my children were not in the car when this happened. I am doing well considering what I've been through. But I live almost everyday with severe nerve pain. Even though I am paralyzed and can't walk I still have severe pain.

Some people don't understand this. It is because I have what is called an incomplete spinal cord injury, which means that my injury is very low on the spinal cord. If my injury had been higher I probably wouldn't have this pain. Sometimes the pain is so unbearable I think I would be better off dead. But then I think about my family. I have been to doctor after doctor and have been on every kind of medication imaginable, but so far nothing has helped my pain. Sometimes the pain is so bad, I don't sleep for days and then I have a seizure. Doctors have suggested getting the nerves clipped, but my insurance will not pay for this to be done. So for now, I'll have to live with this pain as best as I can. I am doing this with the will of God and the strength of my family. Many of my family members help me get things I need, because most of my disability income goes for medications and medical supplies. I appreciate my family so much. Without their help I don't know what I would do. Well this is my story, telling it gives me hope and courage to go on and maybe one day life will be better.