Hawks plan surprise for local teen paralyzed in car accident

ATLANTA - Powder Springs teen Kalen Reese and his family will get their first look at the Atlanta Hawks-themed make-over of his fully wheelchair-accessible bedroom and bathroom on Sunday.

Atlanta Hawks players Dominique Wilkins, Malcolm Delaney, Tim Hardway, Jr., Kris Humphries and David Snowden were on hand for the surprise reveal done by local non-profit, Sunshine on a Ranney Day which has made Kalen’s rooms completely wheelchair accessible.  

16-year-old Kalen was in a serious car accident in 2008, sustained perilous injuries and he instantly became paralyzed he had suffered a Chance Fracture at T12-L2. Kalen is an avid basketball fan, loves the Atlanta Hawks and is an all-star wheelchair basketball player with Blaze Sports. 

Kalen is very independent, but his paralysis creates challenges, especially since his home is not modified to meet his needs.  That’s where Sunshine on a Ranney Day (SOARD) has come in.  The Roswell-based non-profit is giving Kalen a dream Hawks-themed bedroom and bathroom makeover so he can be more independent at home.  Kalen's bedroom and bathroom were on the second level of the house and he was forced to pull himself up the stairs and had to transfer himself onto a desk chair to fit into the bathroom.  SOARD is renovating the downstairs bathroom to be wheelchair accessible and converting a downstairs room to his bedroom so that he can access everything easily.

With the support of the Atlanta Hawks, who have given SOARD signed memorabilia and surprised Kalen with a visit from four Hawks players!

Kalen’s reveal is sure to be a slam dunk!