June celebrates Men’s Health Month. This observance aims to raise awareness about health issues that affect men and boys, encourage early detection and treatment of diseases, and promote healthy lifestyle choices.
Rashid Rondon has a new lease on life, in which he views every day as a “milestone.” His story epitomizes resilience, recovery, and the power of community.
Rashid’s story begins in Brooklyn, New York, where he grew up immersed in a vibrant yet challenging environment. Rashid was an avid basketball player, ping pong enthusiast, improv comedian, and video gamer. His charisma took him far, including a time he delivered a memorable speech in front of 5,000 people at The Jacob Javits Center in Manhattan. But that was all before a life-changing injury. In 2002, at 28, he was shot in the leg at a rap battle. Eight days later, Rashid became an amputee. This traumatic experience was just the beginning of a series of life-altering events.
He had to learn to live with his disability—as someone who thrived on crowds and the spotlight, he felt like this changed his life’s trajectory. As life would have it, he moved away from his home, fell in love, and happily lived in Florida until he experienced a difficult divorce.
According to him, this was his second rock bottom. Rashid describes it as “a heart-breaking experience” that left him homeless and increasingly dependent on alcohol. Needing new scenery, Rashid moved to Washington, DC, in July 2023. He arrived on crutches, not yet fitted for a prosthetic leg, and dealing with his growing alcohol dependency and emotional turmoil from a failed marriage.
Rashid discovered Community of Hope through a Medicaid health packet. “Based on the name alone, I knew this was the place for me,” Rashid recalls.
Upon his first visit to Community of Hope, Rashid was greeted by medical assistant, Jazesa. “She asked me one simple question, ‘How are you today?’ and I broke down in absolute tears, uncontrollably sobbing,” Rashid recounts. Rashid found solace in Jazesa’s empathy. She listened and connected him to emotional wellness care.
Rashid began seeing therapist Andrew Bradshaw and psychiatric nurse practitioner Daramola Ayoade, with case worker Lelia Christian providing unwavering support every step of the way. Lelia helped Rashid secure essential needs like food and clothing, even connecting him to assistance for his phone bill to ensure he could stay connected with his providers.
Sobriety became a central focus for Rashid. “I was going through so much dealing with depression and looking for housing, the only thing you think that can help you during that time period is alcohol,” Rashid admits. “I just wanted to get my life on track.”
Rashid’s determination paid off. By October, he had stopped drinking, taking significant steps towards recovery. “The goal is every single day maintaining sobriety, so every single day is a milestone,” Rashid shares. His ultimate achievement came in May, when he moved into his own apartment after months of housing instability. “The view from my apartment window is so beautiful that I capture pictures daily of the sunset. I can see the Washington Monument; it’s absolutely amazing,” Rashid says with pride.
Rashid’s story is one of profound loss and remarkable gain. He lost his home, his health, and his sense of stability, but he gained hope, resilience, and a supportive community that stood by him through his journey.
“Community of Hope was always there for me to call,” says Rashid, “I don’t know where I’d be without them.”
