Ray’Mon Lewis, RN BSN, the only nurse who uses a wheelchair in Louisiana, inspires his patients to move forward

Maddie Kerth reported this story.

“Nursing called me, truly,” Lewis said. “That’s how I feel.”

"When it came time to apply for college, Lewis committed fully to Southern University’s nursing program. He excelled in his classes and built trust in his training."

"Surrounded by classmates and professors who supported him, he said he felt like part of a family. With each day that passed, he grew more certain that nursing was the only path for him."

“I didn’t have a Plan B,” he said.

"But with one semester left in Lewis’ senior year, everything changed."

He woke up in a hospital bed, heartbroken and confused.

“Took my eyes off the road for a quick second,” Lewis remembered."

"But that’s all it took. He says his car flipped five times."

"Doctors told Lewis the damage from his single-vehicle accident was severe. They said he was paralyzed from the chest down."

“I never looked down on a moment of being paralyzed,” Lewis said. “I was positive when they came in and told me about the situation, the diagnosis. It’s the card I’m dealt, so I accepted it.”

"Lewis turned to rehab, giving it his all, even though his dream of becoming a nurse suddenly appeared out of reach."

"He began the process of relearning the basics, reclaiming his independence inch by inch. And through it all, his Southern University family promised there’d be a spot for him whenever he was ready to come back."

“It definitely brightened up my spirits when I was in there,” Lewis said.

"Slowly, he got stronger. He made it outside. He learned to navigate life on wheels."

"And, six months later, he was back."

Read more at: We the people: Ochsner nurse inspires patients with his survival story

Cheers!

Donna