Paralysed in a shooting 13 months ago, Ralph Burrows is spending his second Christmas holidays in hospital; yet his strong faith and indomitable spirit mean he has high hopes for 2012.He’s hoping to get a motorised wheelchair that will give him some independence back, and even plans to travel the Island giving inspirational talks on the topic of gun violence.“I know a lot of the guys out there involved in this stuff and I want to get my chance to get out there and speak about where I have been, and being out there on the streets,” he explained.“Maybe I can reach someone. I would love to do that. I would go wherever to do it. To the schools, to the streets, wherever.”Mr Burrows, 41, was shot twice by an unknown assailant while he was riding a motorcycle away from a house in the St Monica’s Road area of Pembroke early on November 27, 2010. Another man also suffered less serious injuries in the incident.The bullet severed his spine and left him paralysed from the chest down. Mr Burrows admits he was a drug addict prior to that life-changing day, and spent time in prison for various crimes.He does not know why he was shot, and insists he was not involved in gang activity. He believes he may have been hit by mistake, by gangsters trying to target their rivals.He said of his renewed faith in God since surviving the attack: “Definitely that’s made the biggest change in my life. That’s helped me get well.”On November 27, 2011, the first year anniversary of the shooting, he was baptised at Mount Zion AME Church.“It was an awesome day. That was just my way to get closer to God and for me to show that I was serious,” he explained.“Everything is going great. I gave my heart to the Lord, and I’ve got good people taking care of me down here (on Cooper Ward at King Edward VII Memorial Hospital).“I would like to go home one day. I’m supposed to be going to the extended care unit first. To go home would be expensive as I would need a bed and a hoist, and I need to be turned all the time. That would be too much work for my mother.”During The Royal Gazette’s visit to Mr Burrows in hospital, just before Christmas, he had a constant stream of hospital staff stopping at his door to say hello.“The nurses and aides that help me; I have a good relationship with them. They keep my spirits up and I have good laughs with them every day,” he said.Left unable to use his arms after the shooting, Mr Burrows has slowly recovered some mobility in them lately. A prized possession is his tablet computer which he is able to operate using his knuckles to keep in touch with more than 600 friends on Facebook.One of them, Johnette Moore, was visiting him for the first time when The Royal Gazette called in on him.“We became friends on Facebook; I read his story and it touched me,” explained Ms Moore, who later realised she used to know Mr Burrows’ mother.And while Mr Burrows, from Dockyard, Sandys, might not be able to return home permanently any time soon, he relishes opportunities to get out and about.“I go out quite often. I go to football games and to church on Sunday,” he said. “I’m feeling great. I’m going to be home with my family. Last year I was stuck in hospital. I wasn’t happy last year.”Mr Burrows does not know whether the police have made any progress towards catching those responsible for shooting him.“I haven’t seen the police since I was in intensive care. That was over a year ago. They never come to me or give me any update,” he said.“They are catching a lot of guys with guns though. Maybe they will catch the gun that shot me.”Regardless of whether anyone is brought to justice, he said: “I forgive that guy. It doesn’t cross my mind any more unless someone asks me. It’s forgiven and forgotten.”A police spokesman said: “Despite the best efforts of detectives and encouraging witnesses or anyone with any information to assist the investigative team conducting inquiries into the shooting of two men in the St Monica’s Road, Pembroke area on November 27 2010, the investigation has not significantly progressed. As a result, it is anticipated that the case will be looked at by the review team in the New Year.”