Chicago — Dakotah Earley is making moves!
Chicagoans have been cheering for the young culinary student since a gunman nearly killed him during a brutal street robbery in Lincoln Park that was caught on video seven months ago. He was on the brink of death after the shooting, underwent a dozen surgeries, and lost his left leg to complications from the injuries he suffered.
His mom, Joy Dobbs, spent weeks at his hospital bedside. And on Tuesday, she tweeted a video of Dakotah taking steps with a new prosthesis.
“I am so overjoyed, and I just wanted to share this with everyone who has been there for us through this journey,” Dobbs wrote. “#DakotahEarley is walking. This is a test prosthesis but omg.”
Earley turned 24 less than three weeks after the shooting. At the time, his family told supporters, “a couple weeks ago, we didn’t know if he would live to see another day, let alone another birthday. We are so grateful for the work God is doing in Dakotah’s life and how much love and support we as a family and Dakotah have been shown. We appreciate each one of you during this time.”
He finally went home in September, a few weeks later than doctors initially expected, due to new complications. Before long, Dobbs took him on his “first real outing” — a shopping trip to Target.
But his mom was there all the way.
“He has been through so much and taking it all like a Rock Star,” Dobbs tweeted shortly before he went home. “I said when this all began you would see God in all this. My son was not a full believer but God is so present in this moment.”
Prosecutors charged 19-year-old Tyshon Brownlee with attempted murder, armed robbery, and other felonies less than two weeks after Dakotah was targeted.
