Life Changing Treatment for Gun Violence Victim
My name is Erika and I am a wife and mother from Erie, PA.
I don’t know how gun violence picks its victims, but it seems to pick some of the best. I never thought I would be sitting in a hospital room creating a GoFundMe while my husband, Emery, lies next to me, fighting for his life. Just a month ago, we decided to fly over to Atlanta to visit family and take our children on one last vacation before going back to school. What we thought would be a fun filled trip with family and friends turned out to be the worst weekend of our lives.
We arrived in Atlanta on Friday evening, got our rental car, and headed to our family’s house. We went to dinner that night, and fate would have it, we were the victims of an attempted car jacking. While the assailant didn't get away with the car, he did get away after brutally shooting my husband. Not once. Not twice. But three times. Once in the arm, and twice in the stomach. What started out as dinner and drinks turned into Emery lying in a puddle of blood fighting for his life. Although I wasn’t the one who was shot, watching my husband lie on that ground, I felt like I was dying. All I could think about were my three children who were expecting to see us after dinner that night.
Emery underwent a very invasive surgery, in which the doctor told us would be a matter of life and death. A month later, he is still in Atlanta in the hospital on breathing tubes. He has to undergo another surgery in 4-6 weeks, and another 3 months after that. I am flying back and forth between Atlanta and PA to be there for him, and for my three children, who are thankfully at home in the care of my mother.
Emery is the sole provider for our family and is exhausting all of his work benefits while in hospital for recovery. Due to the amount and magnitude of his injuries, he will have to undergo intense medical treatment. Even with the top tier health insurance benefits from his job, his medical expenses are already piling above our heads, and he still has three more months of treatment, at minimum.
If you know me, then you know how difficult it was for me to make this GoFundMe, but I prayed about it and this is where God led me. I am asking you to donate anything you can to go towards Emery’s medical expenses. Any contribution, even just sharing this link, will make a difference and will get us that much closer on Emery's road to recovery. Even if you are unable to make a donation, please send up your prayers for a full recovery. This means much to our family and we thank you in advance from the bottom of our hearts.
-Erika
