Las Vegas Shooting Victim & Family

Doug Cotter is a loving father, husband and friend.  He was shot and seriously injured during the horrific mass shooting in Las Vegas.  My name is Janet McCree and Cherise Cotter is one of my best friends.

If you know the Cotters you know that Doug, his wife Cherise and their two sons Adam and Aaron are always the first people to be there for anyone in need.
The loss of work for both Doug and Cherise while he is hospitalized and during his recovery and the extended stay in Las Vegas will make a finacial impact on the Cotter Family.

I am reaching out to friends, family, and neigbors to help lighten the financial burden that this senseless act will have on this family in the coming months.
Please continue to keep Doug and his family in your thoughts and your prayers.
Thank you - Janet




Here is Cherise's story:

"Doug Cotter is my husband. He and I live in Orange County, California (Garden Grove) and had been at the Route 91 concert on Sunday, October 2nd with friends and my son and his girlfriend.

My husband was shot. The bullet entered and exited though his forearm then continued through the rib area and landed in his intestine. On Sunday they removed the portion of intestine and left him open, in case the bleeding continued and he had to return to surgery.  Also there were so many patients needing care.   This was all done without my knowledge, we were seperated when the shooting started and I had no idea where he was or his condition for more than 12 agonizing hours.   We were reunited on Monday around noon.  He went in for a second surgery and they reconnected the intestine.   He has been sedated and intubated since Sunday night after his arrival.  He woke up once; most likely from the pain as they cleaned his wounds. I just keep telling him that I am okay his kids are okay and everyone we were with are all okay! I let him know that his wounds are painful but that he is going to be okay to just focus on healing himself! They cleaned and stitched up most of the arm wound...that’s gonna be a hell of a conversation piece from now on because of the hole in his arm and the scar that will be left.... they said most likely no skin graft will be needed.
He is still intubated and on heavy meds.  He is not talking or coherant. We want him off the respirator and breathing on his own, the longer he is on the respirator, the more chance for pneumonia and a much longer recovery.  He is listed as critical but stable and remains in intensive care.  It is possible that we will be in Las Vegas for at least another two weeks. I am just so thankful that he was found and taken care of. He arrived at the hospital in the back of a pick up truck, and it took quite a few men to get him out of the truck as he was ready to rumble and needed to find his family.

Personally, my guardian angels were working overtime on Sunday! How it went from barefoot Jake Owen in blue jeans to Jason Aldean to the worst nightmare of my life I do not know...How I got out with my life I do not know...my friends in front of me were shot the friends behind me were shot....We were on the right side facing the stage. I heard what sounded like firecrackers on the street to the right of me. When I heard them the second time which was the second round and Jason Aldean was ducking...I hit the ground. I assumed they were coming from the front of me, close to the street I crawled for the cover of the stands. I saw no one, no bodies, no blood...I have no idea, no explaination how I missed the gore or maybe I have blocked it from my mind...

I called my mom she heard it all. I rolled under the bleachers and it was very dark. I called my son Adam and he was on the phone with me trying to keep me calm. He told me Dad texted him and he was good! It felt like hours...The gunshots were hitting the stands everywhere around me. It would stop... I would crawl. I laid between two plastic type k-rails that were under there. I saw they opened a fence on the street side but everytime I moved there were gun shots. The people were coming back inside the fence so I went the other way. People were screaming and shouting and I didnt know who was who or even if the shooters were inside or above me on the stands. People were running on top of the stands and the gun shots went on forever. I crawled, climbed, ran, ducked and ended up hiding in a port-a potty of all places. An officer escorted me out of  the port-a potty and handed me off towards my hotel.

I finally just ran across street all the way to my hotel the Tropicana and they led us down underneath the hotel. It was crazy hot down there and I know my phone kept ringing and I just kept talking to who ever was there. I made it up elevator to discover my room key didnt work. The man next door let me in his room. This is the only time I watched the news...And honestly I was on the phone the whole time so I just watched the death numbers growing.

Hearing my son Aaron’s account of what he and Sam (his girlfriend) went through is so heart breaking. My other son Adam was at home on the phone at different points in time with each of us during the whole thing! We are all exhausted and still processing it all and cannot believe how lucky we are! I am heart broken for all those who saw and experienced all the horror and for all those who had loved ones who did not make it! It’s all so unreal. I am pretty sure we are all going to need some therapy. When Doug wakes up he will be going though his own recollection and it is all emotionally draining."