by Dominick Cross
LAFAYETTE, LA — Everyone has access to GoFundMe when something usually tragic strikes. There are nonprofits, churches, businesses, etc., and, of course, good people at the ready to assist in anyway they can.
There can be bake sales, car washes, donation cans around town and the like raising cash for medical bills and recovery.
We have all of that here in South Louisiana. And it’s a wonderful thing.
But we have something else, too: Top-tier musicians playing great homegrown music and a packed house of folks eager to financially assist the particular cause and pass a good time in the process.
It’s how we roll.
So with that in mind, mark Sunday, August 28, 2022 on your calendar for Songs of Hope, a benefit for Dillan Pope who suffered an accident that burst his cervical 7 vertebrae on April 29, 2022.
The benefit goes from 1-9 p.m., at Warehouse 535, 535 Garfield St., Lafayette, La. Currently, there’s an online auction underway.
The injury left him paralyzed from his chest down throughout his lower extremities.
From what I understand, Dillan is super diligent in rehab and determined to walk again.
Tickets are $15, kids 12 and under free. In addition to great music and fun and camaraderie, there’s a raffle, silent auction, cash bar, food by The Southern Spread.
The line-up is simply incredible: Has Beans, Dyer County, Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie, Curley Taylor & Zydeco Trouble, Cedric Watson & Bijou Creole, Feufollet, and Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys.
Special guests include Sonny Landreth, Jourdan Thibodeaux, Anna Laura Edmonton and Chris Segura.
Dillan Pope endured a lengthy surgery on April 30th after the incident. The fractured bone was removed, and hardware was put in place to stabilize the area while it heals.
Dillan attended TIRR Memorial Herman Inpatient Rehabilitation in Houston the month following his surgery, and is now attending rigorous outpatient therapy at Spero Rehab in Austin, TX. He has gained some movement in his lower extremities, however, it is impossible to know how much of his mobility will be restored.
Most spinal cord injury patients continue rehabilitation for years, in addition to purchasing supplies and equipment to assist in daily living. Dillan has, and continues, to work very hard towards becoming independent, and we have high hopes for his full mobility and functionality to return, but only time and extensive rehab will tell.