SNOW HILL — On July 10, 1993, 6-year old Talonda Lanier was sleeping in the back seat of her mother’s — Saidat Lanier — car, as the two made their way to Fort Hood, Texas, from Snow Hill. They had barely begun their journey, when in Winston-Salem on Interstate 40, a man on the passenger side of a Ford Escort shot at Saidat’s car six times before speeding off.
Although Saidat Lanier wasn’t hit, Talonda was struck in the top of her head by a bullet, which lodged itself behind her left eye. Shannon Wayne Huffman, 16, and Michael Barber, 18, were each eventually sentenced to 15 years in prison after pleading guilty to attempted murder.
After five hours of surgery, Talonda went into a coma and didn’t come out of it for 18 days. Doctors didn’t give her much of a chance to live.
Twenty years later, Talonda Lanier has not only survived, but has been able to accomplish plenty despite being paralyzed on her right side. She said she’s learned to make adjustments through the years.
“I had to go through a lot since the accident,” Lanier said. “I had to learn how to walk again, use my left hand and be more self-sufficient. I’ve been living on my own since I was 18 and I’m raising two daughters (6-year old Kira Simmons and 3-year old Trinity Lanier) who really need me. I’ve been paying bills by myself and taking care of what I need to.
“I’m blessed to be able to live and tell my story.”
Lanier graduated from Greene Central High School in 2005 and is planning on going to college to pursue a criminal justice degree, as well. Lanier’s dedication to progression has been inspiring to her mother.
“She calls me a hero because of the time I spent in the military, but really, she’s mine,” Saidat Lanier said.
Saidat Lanier served in the military for 15 years, retiring in 2007. In 2008, Lanier suffered a stroke that left her paralyzed on her left side.
“At the time, I was very distraught,” Lanier said. “I was already suffering from PTSD from the war, and then I had a stroke. It took a couple of years before I was able to deal with this.”
Talonda Lanier has helped her mom out, showing her some of the methods she’s used to do things such as putting on jewelry, braiding her daughters’ hair and putting on clothes.
“This is the stuff that everyday people take for granted, like hopping out of the car and getting groceries,” Saidat Lanier said. “It sounds trivial, but when you can only use one arm to carry them, it takes twice the time. You have constant reminders of your disabled status.”
Recently, Talonda Lanier acquired her driver’s license and bought a Ford Explorer with money she had saved for years. Although the vehicle passed initial inspection, it failed a secondary inspection, which will prevent Lanier from receiving special equipment needed to drive and taking care of errands without assistance.
Currently, the Explorer needs a new drive belt, a ball-joint replacement, rear brake pads and an oil change. Both Saidat Lanier and Yemisi Whitaker — Talonda’s aunt — have sent letters to the State Inspection Committee while Talonda works on trying to save for repairs.
“This is someone who is trying to do something instead of living off the system,” Whitaker said. “She could’ve easily used disability as a crutch, but she truly wants to do for herself. You want to get behind someone doing that.”
Despite having a few more road blocks in her path, Talonda Lanier is still doing her best to remain optimistic and give advice to those in similar situations.
“It might not look like things are going to get better, but in time they will,” Lanier said. “You have to pray through situations and eventually you’ll get through it. I’ve gone through a lot just to get here and have wanted to give up so many times, but strength and willpower keeps me going.”
Junious Smith III can be reached at 252-559-1077 and Junious.Smith@Kinston.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JuniousSmithIII.
To help out,
If anyone would like to make a donation to help Talonda Lanier, please send it to P.O. Box 825, Snow Hill 28580