Class of 2023:
David Bautista
Meet David Bautista. David was the 9th recipient of The ‘Kel Strong’ Scholarship awarded in June 2023. David has overcame many hurdles in his lifetime. The most life changing event is when he sustained his traumatic brain injury (TBI). Since David’s teenage years, he has battled with depression. On May 7th, 2019, on his 32nd birthday, he attempted to commit suicide. This resulted in a traumatic brain injury secondary to a gunshot wound (GSW) to the back of his head. David went from being completely independent to bed bound, and now wheelchair bound.
One day, while he was watching the local news, David saw a story about the ‘Kel Strong’ Mabatah Foundation. “The Story about Kel’s TBI inspired me in a way that I felt I could overcome my TBI,” says David and “brought more hope in me.”
At TIRR Memorial Hermann Rehabilitation, his therapists recommended that he should apply for the ‘Kel Strong’ Scholarship. With all the information and encouragement from those around him, David applied for the scholarship in 2023. He had used up all his visits and was seeking more visits from his insurance to continue his recovery but his insurance kept denying him. “I have been so grateful for the ‘Kel Strong’ Scholarship because the scholarship has given me a second chance at life,” says David. That comment by David is what The ‘Kel Strong’ Foundation is all about, giving individuals that suffered a traumatic brain injury a second chance at life to do things that once seemed impossible.
The financial assistance through the scholarship helped him to obtain additional physical therapy sessions when his limited insurance visits finished and they denied him more visits. David’s progress has been nothing but physically, mentally, and spiritually positive. “I am able to walk with a walker and assist with some of my activities of daily living. Thank you Kel, The ‘Kel Strong’ Foundation, and TIRR Memorial Hermann for all the support. I am truly blessed to have met each and every one of you!” David says.
