American actor and comedian Darryl "Chill" Mitchell arrived in Belize on Wednesday. He is here along with the Cosby show's Malcolm Jamal Warner. They came here to celebrate Warner's birthday tomorrow night at the Fahrenheit Nightclub but today 7NEWS enlisted the star - who is a paraplegic - to go with us on a special mission of inspiration. Keith Swift _has the story.
Keith Swift Reporting,
We met Shaphan Domingo a month ago here - on his sofa watching television. The 21 year old has been paralyzed since January when he was shot in the back. Shaphon who is plagued with bedsores was down but not out.
[July 10th Interview]
Shaphan Domingo,
"I just have hope and faith right now. I just have a lot of hope,
faith in the most high that one day i will stand up and walk."
Keith Swift,
And if you don't.
Shaphan Domingo,
"I just have to continue live this way."
[Click herefor full July 10th Story]
Shaphan had hope and that's why seven news arranged for him to meet Daryl "Chill" Mitchell. Mitchell is an actor and comedian who's acted in a range of movies and TV shows - we see him here from his role in Veronica's Closet. But that was before a motorcycle accident that left him a paraplegic: Chill gets around in this wheel chair, but that hasn't slowed him down. He regularly hobnobs with A-list celebrities, and enlists their support for his foundation. He's seen here with "Magic" Johnson, LL Cool J and Ludacris, Denzel Washington, Spike Lee, Lebron James and Vince Carter.
Keith Swift,
What keeps you going?
Darryl 'Chill' Mitchell, Actor/Comedian
"My faith man. My faith. Thing is man, I never gave up. That's for starters and people saw that."
And that message of faith and perseverance is what "Chill" Mitchell took to the KHMH. He arrived this morning in his wheel chair and rolled up to the surgical ward to meet Shaphan - who was waiting for him. Once they met - the connection was electric. Shaphon and "Chill" - chilled for about 30 minutes. The two talked about just about everything - from bedsores to cars. They met privately for about 20 of those thirty minutes. After, Chill told me the conversation was about more than just cars and bedsores. It was about giving hope to this young man - facing the rest of his life in a wheelchair. "Chill" was impressed by Shaphan.
Darryl 'Chill' Mitchell,
"I am inspired man. The fact that he is young and he is holding his head. That is the main thing and I told him he is young and the thing about it is you really got time and things that can work for you. Possibly he will be walking very soon."
Shaphan says "Chill" gave him new reasons to hope.
Shaphan Domingo, Paralyzed
"I thank the man for coming to give me a lil visit and thing. He motivated me and let me know exactly what he is going through and the things which I can do to help myself. It makes you feel motivated to know that there are people out there who are motivating you to that extent, making you know that they are in the same situation and you're not supposed to give up."
Keith Swift,
You're learnt from him?
Shaphan Domingo,
"I learnt a lot."
Keith Swift,
Are you now more optimistic and thinking that maybe its not over?
Shaphan Domingo,
"Well of course it is not over. From the beginning in my mind it wasn't over. I still can do more, I can do a lot. They have things out there that I can still do. I just need to continue, just motivation. The family support just has to be there, more motivation."
But even Shaphan admits he'll need more than motivation to get out of the wheelchair. He'll need help and "Chill" has offered some.
Darryl 'Chill' Mitchell,
"He is focused and we spoke about him wanting to come over to US and get some medical attention. So that's the main thing and he understands the importance of that, just trying to raise some funds so he can get there. So I'll talk to people on my end because they'd volunteer their time and their services but you got over there. So that's the main thing. I encourage all the people of Belize to just extend a hand and try to help him out. I'll try and do what I can do on my side as well."
And as Chill rolled out of the surgical ward and got back on the elevator - he'd left, but his message remained.
"Chill" Mitchell says that once Shaphon can secure a plane ticket to the United States, he would be able to assist him. Mitchell is a spokesman for the Christopher Reeves Foundation. We should note that on his last visit, Mitchell visited Lisa Garoy. You might remember that she was hit by a stray bullet in her spine.
