In 2016, I was selling The Contributor and playing music in front of Bailey’s downtown. I had to go out to pay my phone bill out on West End and Broadway. I think it was called Sprint. On the way back, I was on what they call a roller-aid. It’s like a walker with a seat in it that you can sit down in.
In fact, I got something like that still now. My church bought it for me.
So, I was going back toward town and I was in front of this Buick car dealer place and I always play music on my speaker when I’m walking around. So, I was going down towards town on West End and I didn’t realize it, but there was a real bad place in the sidewalk. A big cut in the sidewalk. It’s still there as of today. There’s a picture of it with this story. As of 2023 this sidewalk has still not been fixed and I’m very careful when I come down that sidewalk.
I got hurt really bad. It flipped me over my roller aid and I landed flat on my back. Cars even pulled over to pick me up. They wanted to call 911, but I wouldn’t let them. They took pictures for me, but I didn’t get any compensation from the city or from Buick or from anybody. Later on in the month I started having neck and back problems. This was a severe pain. I went to my main primary doctor and got referred to a neck and spine doctor. They found out I had bad damage in my neck. I had to have titanium screws put in the back of my neck. I’m in constant pain. And they still won’t fix the sidewalk. I think I should have been compensated, because I have to buy my own medicine because my insurance doesn’t pay for the medication that works for me. It’s all temporary relief though because they tried shots in my neck and head and they didn’t do any good.
So I was sent to another doctor. The first one I seen is Dr. Schooly. After that I was referred to Dr. Victor Issac over on Church Street. That’s who referred me back to Dr. Schooly to operate on my neck and back to have a stint put in. So, they are really trying to make me a bionic man! I’m well on my way. I got titanium screws in my neck and staples in my stomach from 1977. And the stint will hopefully be the last operation. Oh wait no I’m going in for a knee operation.
I pray to God that someone out there can get this sidewalk fixed. God bless you all and thank you.