Sam Carchidi | Rest in peace, fallen Tiger

Shaka, I hardly knew you. But you have left an indelible imprint.

I will forever see your effervescent smile. I will always remember how you fought to overcome paralysis, how you graduated from high school in a wheelchair, and how you excitedly planned to start college this January.

I will always remember the way you embraced life, and you will always serve as an inspiration. To me, to thousands of others.

For those who don't know, "Shaka" is the nickname of Shykem Lawrence, a former Woodrow Wilson High football player who, tragically, died Friday afternoon in his Camden home. He was 18 and he was full of life, right to the very end.

Shaka was a safety at Woodrow Wilson who was injured while making a tackle in a scrimmage last year. For the past 16 months, it had been an uphill battle for a young man who had dreams of becoming an architect. He was confined to a wheelchair (or bed) and connected to a ventilator to help him breathe.

There were many setbacks, all related to his paralysis. There were numerous times when Shaka was readmitted to the hospital for a urinary infection or pneumonia. The last time was Oct. 2.

"He was so afraid he would stay in there and would miss his aunt's birthday party on Oct. 10," Vivian Sims, Shaka's grandmother, said yesterday.

For the last four months, Sims lived with Shaka and helped his mom and nurses. "But . . . we were so happy he made it home earlier this week."

Shaka was a gentle soul with an ornery, fun-loving makeup. But, truth be told, there were times he had angry outbursts in the hospital.

The anger was understandable. One minute, Shaka was a young athlete in the best condition of his life. The next minute, his neck was broken and he was paralyzed.

After spending 71/2 months in the hospital, Shaka went home to a hero's welcome on April 11. He answered repeated phone calls on his cell. "My ladies," he said, smiling. He later attended his prom and graduation.

When Wilson's football team took the home field yesterday against Paul VI, players and coaches knew the horrible news.

"When I heard, I was speechless for 15 minutes," said Wilson senior Aaron Bakr, one of Shaka's close friends.

Bakr wore a specially made Shaka T-shirt under his jersey yesterday. He said it wasn't difficult to play, "because I know his spirit was out there and he'd want us out there."

Junior lineman Bilal Bakr, Aaron's brother, agreed.

"To me, we played harder because of him," he said after Wilson's closer-than-it-looked 34-6 loss.

Bilal Bakr paused.

"I always thought he'd walk again, because he came home in high spirits," he said. "When things got tough, he kept his spirits up."

Vivian Sims, who said the family was making funeral arrangements, choked back tears.

"Once in a while, things would get to him, like they would anyone else. But for the most part, he pressed on," she said. "Once in a while, he'd say, 'Grandmom, why me?' But for the most part, his spirits were up. His legacy will be that, no matter what comes at you, keep pressing. He always had that smile on his face."

Wilson coach Luther Howard recalled how Shaka met with him a few years ago and explained that some of the players were afraid to talk to the coach. Shaka was serving as team spokesman. He improved the line of communication between the players and Howard.

Howard, who wore a T-shirt that read "In Memory of a Fallen Tiger," smiled at the memory. "He spoke his mind," the coach said, fondly.

Rest in peace, Shaka. Your smile will be with us forever.