Kyron Green’s Journey of Hope Six Years After 2019 Shooting

It was a moment that shook the nation back in 2019, an eleven-year-old boy caught in the crossfire of gun violence. Today, six years later, we bring you a rare follow-up on his journey—a story of grief, but also of resilience, hope, and the power of dreams that refuse to fade. As we conclude this month’s search for a bright side in grief, Sabreena Daly shares an updated story of Kyron Green, whose dreams keep him moving forward against all odds. Here’s more.

 

Sabreena Daly, Reporting

In May 2019, an eleven-year-old boy attending St. Luke Methodist Primary School was shot in a senseless act of violence. Kyron Green was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time when a gunman opened fire near a neighborhood store. Caught in the crossfire, Kyron’s life changed forever. Now, six years on, what once seemed like a temporary setback has become a permanent reality. Kyron is paralyzed and uses a wheelchair, carrying not just the physical scars, but the emotional weight of that tragic day.

 

Kyron Green, Shooting Victim

“When I go to the boulevard, I sometimes pass the shop. I would just look inside there and watch the area where I got shot. But I don’t really make that bother me because it already happened and I can’t change anything about it.”

 

His mother remembers that day as the moment her life also changed.

 

Marsha Belisle, Mother

“That day, that night, I felt like my whole world just crashed. You know, everything just changed inside of me. I felt like I could have just ripped it out and thrown it away.”

 

Grief manifests in different ways. And while Marsha Belisle remains grateful that the incident didn’t claim her son’s life, the reality that followed was life-altering. Her son’s life changed in a heartbeat, and over time, she’s learned to live with that reality. Still, Belisle admits there are quiet moments when the “what ifs” linger, and she can’t help but wonder how different things might have been.

 

Marsha Belisle

“That’s my biggest thing because there are many times when he’s out there with his friends, and they’re running around playing, and he’s sitting in the corner watching them. And I could just look at him and say, man, if he could only get out of that chair and walk, you know. That was my biggest thing. And I hold that a lot because I always wanted to see him up, back walking, moving around. I’d say, man, if he was only up again, different things would happen. But God always sees farther than us. He knows best.”

 

At Canaan SDA High School, thirty-one students are getting ready to celebrate a major milestone—graduation day. As they rehearse their steps and lend their voices to the commencement song A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman, one story stands out. Among them is Kyron Green—perhaps the biggest dreamer of all. While many dreams are still taking shape, one has already come true for him and his mother, he’s about to graduate high school.

 

Marsha Belisle

“Yes, that’s the biggest dream. Because I said, despite your injury, son, that doesn’t define who you really are, you know. You still have brains. Your brains didn’t get affected—thank God for that. You may not be walking, but you have a life, and we give God thanks for that every single day.”

 

Kyron’s high school journey was far from ordinary. It took teamwork—his family, the National Resource Center for Inclusive Education, and Canaan SDA High School all came together to help him succeed. The school’s principal shared that supporting Kyron wasn’t viewed as going the extra mile—it was simply doing what was right: ensuring he had the opportunity to learn and succeed like any other student.

 

Jaime Roberts, Principal

“When he came here, he was in a wheelchair due to gunshot violence, and we said, yes, we need to do something. We believe in all inclusion. We believe that every child deserves a rightful education.”

 

Marsha Belisle

“And they had planned that we would do the package every two weeks. We’d go in, get the package, come home. I would literally teach myself the work and then teach him the work, you know. And I had to do a lot of Google studies and things. So he took me back to school myself. And, you know, it’s been a struggle. But he’s here. He’s graduating now.”

Kyron Green

“I say thanks to my mom. She’s been there with me, and she helped me go through school and everything. Even though some people from school disliked me, my mom still tells me not to worry about anybody. Nobody will bring you down.”

 

Kyron Green’s journey hasn’t been easy, but he’s proof that determination can overcome even the toughest challenges. Though his injury changed his life, his dreams and hope remain strong. Now, as he prepares to graduate alongside his classmates to the song “A Million Dreams,” Kyron shares a message of hope and resilience for others facing similar struggles

Kyron Green

“So people could be in my stage, like in a wheelchair, too, and they might be going through the same thing as me. I never gave up, So you don’t give up, either. If I made it through, you can make it through, too. Just put your mind to it, don’t worry about what nobody says.”

 

A living proof that even when life takes a turn, dreaming doesn’t have to end. Looking on the Bright Side, I’m Sabreena Daly.