KANSAS CITY, Mo. — At just eight years old, Tishawn Nelson is surprising doctors with her speedy recovery just two months after being shot in the head on a playground.
41 Action News got an update from Tishawn's family on Sunday about the obstacles they face.
"She's a fighter, I'll tell you that," Tishawn's mom LaTisha Slayden said.
Tishawn wasn't able to move the left side of her body, but that has changed.
"Tishawn is moving both her leg and her arm. It's still going to be more therapy as we continue to leave the hospital with rehab," Slayden said.
Police said another child shot her on June 25 at the Blue Valley Court apartment complex. The surveillance camera on the side of the family's apartment captured the whole thing.
It's difficult for Slayden to talk about.
"The little boy, which I don't know who that is, brought the gun to the park where Tishawn was playing at with her two cousins. From my understanding, the little boy and Tishawn's cousin were playing with the gun together, and it ended up in her cousin's hand, and that's when the gun went off," Slayden said.
That's just part of the obstacle Slayden and Tishawn's father Shawn Nelson are facing. They come home to that apartment knowing police haven't charged anyone. Slayden said police tell her they can't find the parents of the boy who took the gun from home, while the apartment management tells her the parents still live at the complex.
"The child's parents, that brought the gun down there, I feel like they're the ones really liable for this," Nelson said.
Nelson and Slayden can't understand why police haven't filed charges yet, and demand justice.
"It's dangerous to bring my daughter back down there to that environment," Slayden said.
That's why they're trying to move out by Tishawn's release date, but finding affordable housing and reliable transportation is an added burden. Slayden says they'll have to settle for subsidized housing. Their new home has to cater to Tishawn's wheelchair.
In the meantime, they're trying to keep Tishawn's life be as normal as possible.
"I cook on Sundays, big meals on Sundays. What we're having today is ribs, ribs is what she wants," Slayden laughed.
"The main thing is, she's alive and we're trying to get away from down here and start our life over, but now we have a few setbacks," Nelson said.
A Good Samaritan with a volunteer organization who also works at the apartment complex stepped up to help recently.
"I was overwhelmed with joy," Slayden said.
This Good Samaritan told the family he'd "adopt" Tishawn. He's buying school clothes, supplies, and anything Tishawn wants.
Nelson and Slayden laughed that Tishawn already has a long wish list full of toys.
Slayden says she'll be released by Sept. 1 or 8.
41 Action News will keep you updated on Tishawn's journey to recovery and justice.
