IT TAKES A VILLAGE—Fellow parishoners have rallied to help Simi resident Scott White, second from right, with his family, from left, Matthew, Megan, Nicole and wife Monica. When his niece’s wedding was called off in November, the Rev. Joseph Shea of St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church found a way to turn lemons into lemonade.

The bride’s family had already booked the Odyssey restaurant in Granada Hills for a Jan. 15 reception, and their $6,000 deposit for the venue was nonrefundable. When they offered the banquet room to the church in hopes it could be put to good use, Shea knew just what to do.

“Father Shea was instrumental in coming up with the idea of having a fundraising dinner for Scott White,” said Janet Barry, church volunteer.

White, a Simi Valley resident, was badly injured in June when he suffered a diabetic seizure while driving in Los Angeles. His car slammed into a bus stop and then into a tree.

The father of three, including a boy and a girl who attend St. Rose of Lima Catholic School, White sustained grave injuries that ultimately left the 42-yearold paralyzed. When the congregation heard the bad news, members decided they wanted to do something to help White equip his home for someone who is handicapped.

The result was tonight’s dinner at the Odyssey.

“We sent the word out by fliers in the church bulletin and emailed all the parents at school,” said Barry, whose son also attends St. Rose of Lima school.

“Just being able to help is important to everyone. It hits close to home; anyone could become paralyzed. It’s devastating for a family, emotionally and financially,” she said.

More than 150 people signed up to attend the dinner. The church has raised $10,000 from ticket sales and other donations. The dinner will include a celebration of White’s Jan. 17 birthday.

White and his wife, Monica, are members of St. Peter Claver Catholic Church. Their daughter Nicole, 16, is a student at Simi Valley High School. Their daughter Megan, 13, and son, Matthew, 8, attend St. Rose, which is adjacent to the church on Royal Avenue.

White spent three weeks in California Hospital Medical Center in Los Angeles after the accident.

He had a bruised frontal lobe, a fractured left foot, internal injuries and a severe fracture in his lower back. After being transferred to Simi Valley Hospital, White had back surgery on Aug. 24. Doctors fused together seven vertebrae and implanted hardware to hold his spine in place.

“When the congregation heard about my accident, people dropped by I didn’t even know,” White said. “Father Shea visited me and said they wanted to help.”

Three weeks after the surgery, White was doing well and even walking with the aid of a walker. After being discharged from the hospital, he had extensive therapy and was showing signs of improvement.

But everything changed for the worse on Sept. 11.

“I woke up that morning and couldn’t move my lower half,” White said. “I was rushed to the emergency room. I had developed an infection that stemmed from the hardware in my back.”

The infection attacked his spine and nervous system.

He had two strokes, and the infection left him paralyzed from the navel down.

Getting around his house in a wheelchair is difficult for White, who is in constant pain.

Volunteers from different agencies have remodeled his bathroom for handicap use, but additional changes are needed.

Despite his physical limitations, White plans to return to work as a manager of technology at USC in February.

He’s touched that so many people have rallied around him.

“Prior to the accident I would have said I had few friends. Since this happened hundreds of people have stepped forward. These generous and good-natured people are in our community.

“I was blessed before the accident, but I was numb to it. Now my eyes are open,” White said.

For information or to donate, call (818) 517-3012.