Kids Come Together For Ikhari Hinds-Lewis Of Flatbush

Young people throughout our area came together this weekend for a beloved 16-year-old neighbor who was very seriously injured a few weeks ago.

The Park Slope Food Coop dedicated its 9th Annual Kids Variety Show on Saturday night to Flatbush resident Ikhari Hinds-Lewis, who recently suffered a traumatic brain injury.

Ikhari Hinds-Lewis, a former P.S. 139 student, was struck by a car in January while in Barbados with his family to attend his grandmother’s funeral. After undergoing emergency brain surgery, he remained in a medically induced coma for nearly two weeks.

Hinds-Lewis is still recovering in Barbados. The high school junior performed guitar in the Coop’s variety show for five years, said Martha Siegel, one of the event’s organizers.

At Saturday’s show at the Old First Church, Siegel was videotaped dedicating the show to Hinds-Lewis, and then the crowd and performers shouted “Get Well Soon, Ikhari.” The video was sent to Kassim Hinds, the young man’s mother, so she could show it to her son.

Hinds-Lewis, currently a student at George Westinghouse High School, is an “accomplished guitarist,” his mother told us. He is also on the Westinghouse robotics and tennis teams, and was really looking forward to a citywide “build the best robot” competition.

A fund has been set up for the family to help with uncovered medical expenses and to allow Hinds-Lewis’ mother to remain in Barbados to monitor his care and recovery.