Gunshot victim, Thomas Garcia, needs assistance
Ladyville residents, thirty-seven year old Jose Gonzalez and twenty-five year old Thomas Garcia attempted to buy gasoline from the Esso Ramon’s Service Station at closing time last Friday night. After being told it was too late to get any gas, the Omni security guard, Ignacio Reyes, exchanged words with the men as they returned to their car. A video shows Reyes followed and shot both men. The trigger happy security guard has been charged with two counts of Grievous Harm but life has not returned to normal for the victims. The nine millimeter shell is lodged near Garcia’s spine and his condition has worsened. News Five spoke to his wife today, who says that they need a prayer and spinal surgery.
Sharmane Garcia, Husband Needs Spine Surgery
“My husband Thomas Garcia was one of the guys that got shot at the gas station Friday night. He had—the bullet entered the side and was lodged near his spine. At first, doctors felt that it was okay and when we did the CT Scan on Monday and on Wednesday we got back the results.”
Dr. Joel Cervantes, Neuro and Spine Surgeon
“Basically, because of the wound he suffered there has been a fracture of some of the bone elements of the spine. Those have been pushed into the spinal canal and those bone fragments are pressing on the nerves that travel in the canal. What needs to be done is to open up the skin, the fatty layer of the muscle, access the region that has that pressing of the fragments and clean it up so that nerves can breathe.”
Jose Sanchez
“Is this something that’s difficult?”
Dr. Joel Cervantes
“Well, you’d never see any surgeries easy. In this case, there is a bit of risk because the patient has been suffering from this for a week now. So it’s not gonna be easy. It’s not the most difficult but it has a level of difficulty.”
Jose Sanchez
“If the fragments would stay where they are, what can that result in?”
Dr. Joel Cervantes
“The permanent damage which is pain, difficulty to urine, difficulty to stool, abnormal sensations between the legs running down the feet as such, sometimes you get a burning type of pain under these circumstances.”
Jose Sanchez
“So it’s very important to get it done as quickly as possible.”
Dr. Joel Cervantes
“Yes, as soon as possible.”
Jose Sanchez
“I understand it is a bit costly.”
Sharmane Garcia
“Yes, it is. The doctors are—Dr. Cervantes is trying to do it as low as he can. However, it’s still a cost that’s kinda tough. What we’re trying to ask is anybody—he has a lot of friends who say that they’re willing to support and so on. So what we’re asking now is anybody at all if you have, whatever you want to donate or help us with we would appreciate it.”
If you would like to offer financial assistance to the Garcia family, Sharmane can be reached at 610-2282 or 669-6981.
