Deputy Littlejohn receives custom chair from WFW

April 24, 2019 at 11:38 p.m. is a moment in time that will live forever in the life of Cass County Sheriff ’s Deputy, Ray Littlejohn. It was at that time that Deputy Littlejohn, in the course of duty, in a heavy rainstorm with poor visibility, crashed into a large oak tree that had fallen onto the roadway. The impact snapped his neck, instantly paralyzing him. When emergency services arrived, Deputy Littlejohn related that he was unable to feel his arms or his legs.

After arrival at the hospital, a physical examination demonstrated partial paralysis of all four limbs and it became obvious that Deputy Littlejohn had suffered a permanent spinal cord injury. Following a lengthy hospital stay that involved cervical spine surgery, Deputy Littlejohn was diagnosed with incomplete tetraplegia, meaning that he has only partial sensation and movement in all four extremities.

After his hospital stay, he was transferred to an inpatient rehabilitation facility on May 10, 2019. During Deputy Littlejohn’s inpatient rehabilitation, he developed pneumonia and was also diagnosed and treated for acute pancreatitis. Other medical issues arose as a result of his severe injury and he had to undergo other medical procedures.

Deputy Littlejohn requires total assistance for mobility, dressing, grooming and performance of other activities of daily living. Nursing care is necessary 24 hours per day.

All who know Deputy Littlejohn know that he is not a small man. The current wheelchair he has is not sturdy enough to take care of his needs and is, in fact, broken. But that problem is now erased thanks to Wheelchairs for Warriors and their Executive Director, Crystal Lee Laramore.

Wheelchairs for Warriors has custom built a chair from the ground up with substantial tires and a custom seat. Red and blue lights have also been installed on the front of the chair distinctly making it one-of-a-kind.

On Wednesday, November 10, Wheelchairs for Warriors drove from Galveston to Cass County to personally present Deputy Littlejohn with his new custom-built wheelchair. At the presentation, Deputy Littlejohn was surrounded by family, friends, county officials and county employees eager to watch him take his inaugural ride in his new, custom designed wheelchair provided by Wheelchairs for Warriors.