The family of a 12-year-old boy paralyzed by a stray bullet has been given a ray of hope for the future thanks to the generosity of Shaquille O'Neal.

The NBA Hall of Famer and TNT analyst is paying rent for a year and furnishing a wheelchair-accessible home in Atlanta for the family of Isaiah Payton, who was struck in the spine by a bullet while walking out of a high school football game in August.

Source: Family Handout

O'Neal decided to help the family after learning that Payton could not be released from the hospital because his family's home was not equipped to handle his disability. O'Neal is a father of five, including a teenage son, UCLA forward Shareef O'Neal, 19, and a teenage daughter, eighth-grade basketball phenom Me'arah O'Neal.

"I was watching the story and it was just sad,'' he said. "It could've been any one of us. It could've been my son ... it could've been your cousin."

Source: GoFundMe

The former Lakers star reached out to Wood to get the family moved into a home that can accommodate his needs.

"She was living in a one-bedroom apartment with her two boys, so we found her a house in College Park in a nice area,'' O'Neal said. He added that he will be purchasing furniture and televisions for the new home as well as Ring doorbell cameras.

Source: Family Handout

O'Neal has become known for acts of generosity, whether it's surprising kids at a pick-up basketball game or raising money on TODAY to help Marine Toys for Tots during the holidays.

Source: JBL Fest

He isn't the only one pitching in to help Payton. Papa John's CEO Rob Lynch and chairman Jeff Smith are also donating to help the family, and the City of Atlanta Fire Department is providing financial assistance.

Payton's friend, Damean Spear, suffered a gunshot wound to his leg during the shooting. A 15-year-old boy, whose name is not being released, has been charged with aggravated assault in connection to the incident. 

Source: Family Handout

"This was a reckless, heartless and cowardly act of violence that forever changed the life of a 12-year-old child and his family and deeply affected another juvenile," Atlanta police chief Erika Shields said Thursday. 

Good things will happen as well as bad things. What is important is to always help others. Life has it's ups and downs but stories like this help us to see the good in life. 

Please SHARE this story with your friends and family.

Source: Associated Press, 11Alive.com