Operation: Hero Support
Donation protected
Mission
Houston Police Officer Ronny Cortez has supported and protected the streets of Houston for 25 years. Dedicated to keeping his community safe, he has put his life on the line every single day and worn his uniform proudly. But Cortez's life and that of his family was forever changed when he was shot in the line of duty on Feburary 28, 2017 while attempting to apprehend a robbery suspect. Officer Cortez has made tremendous strides forward in his therapy treatments, but is still facing a very long road to recovery filled with obstacles and financial burdens for him and his family. We hope that by coming together as a community and showing our support and appreciation for Officer Cortez, it will be clear that his sacrifices were not made in vain.
Objective
Operation: Hero Support is an effort to collect funding to aid the recovery efforts of Officer Cortez. Funds will be used to ease the burden of financial hardships Officer Cortez and his family face; medical, housing, equipment, as well a stem cell treatment which will hopefully allow him to walk unassisted again.
History
Officer Ronny Cortez was shot in the line of duty, February 28, 2017, while trying to apprehend a robbery suspect. The first shot Officer Cortez received was to the lower back, and into the spine that dropped him to his knees and paralyzed him. Once on the ground; the crook shot him repeatedly, screaming at him "I am going kill all you cops now", all while Officer Cortez was awake and alert, and helpless to defend himself. In the end, the crook had put the gun to Officer Cortez's head and said "you are going to die now" and pulled the trigger. The bullet jammed in the gun. The crook was eventually killed by hero's Officer Munoz and Sgt. Garza.
Sheri Cortez has gone down in HPD history as the first wife present at her husband’s own shooting while the officer was on duty. This was life changing to Sheri, Ronny and the entire Cortez family.
Over the last 8 months, his wife, Sheri, has held the family together, alone. During Ronny's stay at the hospital, Sheri managed to graduate a daughter from College and son from High School, while still maintaining a vigil daily by her husband’s side. The insurance obstacles have been plenty; Every other day she would get a "end date" from the people at TIRR leaving her to wonder where they were going to live. Ronny was in no position psychologically to go back to the home they shared for over 20 years. In fact, it was determined, by a psychiatrist, that it would be "inhumane to ask Officer Cortez to return to the place where he lived and see the place where he was not only shot and paralyzed on a daily basis".
But, where were they to go? Ronny's city paycheck was $58 after bills, loans to keep them afloat, and living expenses.
The family was told repeatedly that Ronny would be ushered out of TIRR and into a "facility". Sheri fought to have his care continue at TIRR; especially after the stroke he suffered in April 2017. The stroke took away his right side dexterity and has now left him "legally blind", along with any hope of ever returning to work. The insurance games were plenty. Including remarks made to Sheri about concerns over "constituents" vs Officer Cortez.
The primary concern was a home that was safe and handicapped accessible for Officer Cortez. This took months and months of bargaining, manipulation by the insurance company and unnecessary stress put on the family. The insurance company had even told one of the contractors to not "give anything to the Cortez's, because they didn't deserve it, and it wasn't fair that the City of Houston should have to pay for major modifications to their home". Finally, after getting through the insurance nightmare, they had found a home and had the PROMISE from the leadership of this City that they would receive help and that they would get things "all the way done" for them so that they didn't have to worry. But that relief of stress for her never came due to Harvey.
In the end, the City Insurance did pay for the modifications to the house, thanks to Councilman Larry Green's involvement; but, that left Sheri hunting down over $125,000 CASH. The family could not get a mortgage as the sole income was lying in a hospital bed. The family put signature loans under her kids names and put liens on property. The belief was she would worry about it later; she had to get Ronny into a home; not a hotel (which was offered) or a convalescent home, which was also offered.
Now, she is paying all of the loans with no income and the savings is running out. The hope was one day to sale the home they shared for 20 years; but, at this time of year, the house won't sale. They will wait until early spring to test the market again.
The Cortez family has been given an option of Stem Cell Treatment by Dr. Stanley Jones. This is the only hope of Ronny walking or repairing his vision. But, currently there is no money for this treatment and insurance won't pay for it.
Houston Police Officer Ronny Cortez has supported and protected the streets of Houston for 25 years. Dedicated to keeping his community safe, he has put his life on the line every single day and worn his uniform proudly. But Cortez's life and that of his family was forever changed when he was shot in the line of duty on Feburary 28, 2017 while attempting to apprehend a robbery suspect. Officer Cortez has made tremendous strides forward in his therapy treatments, but is still facing a very long road to recovery filled with obstacles and financial burdens for him and his family. We hope that by coming together as a community and showing our support and appreciation for Officer Cortez, it will be clear that his sacrifices were not made in vain.
Objective
Operation: Hero Support is an effort to collect funding to aid the recovery efforts of Officer Cortez. Funds will be used to ease the burden of financial hardships Officer Cortez and his family face; medical, housing, equipment, as well a stem cell treatment which will hopefully allow him to walk unassisted again.
History
Officer Ronny Cortez was shot in the line of duty, February 28, 2017, while trying to apprehend a robbery suspect. The first shot Officer Cortez received was to the lower back, and into the spine that dropped him to his knees and paralyzed him. Once on the ground; the crook shot him repeatedly, screaming at him "I am going kill all you cops now", all while Officer Cortez was awake and alert, and helpless to defend himself. In the end, the crook had put the gun to Officer Cortez's head and said "you are going to die now" and pulled the trigger. The bullet jammed in the gun. The crook was eventually killed by hero's Officer Munoz and Sgt. Garza.
Sheri Cortez has gone down in HPD history as the first wife present at her husband’s own shooting while the officer was on duty. This was life changing to Sheri, Ronny and the entire Cortez family.
Over the last 8 months, his wife, Sheri, has held the family together, alone. During Ronny's stay at the hospital, Sheri managed to graduate a daughter from College and son from High School, while still maintaining a vigil daily by her husband’s side. The insurance obstacles have been plenty; Every other day she would get a "end date" from the people at TIRR leaving her to wonder where they were going to live. Ronny was in no position psychologically to go back to the home they shared for over 20 years. In fact, it was determined, by a psychiatrist, that it would be "inhumane to ask Officer Cortez to return to the place where he lived and see the place where he was not only shot and paralyzed on a daily basis".
But, where were they to go? Ronny's city paycheck was $58 after bills, loans to keep them afloat, and living expenses.
The family was told repeatedly that Ronny would be ushered out of TIRR and into a "facility". Sheri fought to have his care continue at TIRR; especially after the stroke he suffered in April 2017. The stroke took away his right side dexterity and has now left him "legally blind", along with any hope of ever returning to work. The insurance games were plenty. Including remarks made to Sheri about concerns over "constituents" vs Officer Cortez.
The primary concern was a home that was safe and handicapped accessible for Officer Cortez. This took months and months of bargaining, manipulation by the insurance company and unnecessary stress put on the family. The insurance company had even told one of the contractors to not "give anything to the Cortez's, because they didn't deserve it, and it wasn't fair that the City of Houston should have to pay for major modifications to their home". Finally, after getting through the insurance nightmare, they had found a home and had the PROMISE from the leadership of this City that they would receive help and that they would get things "all the way done" for them so that they didn't have to worry. But that relief of stress for her never came due to Harvey.
In the end, the City Insurance did pay for the modifications to the house, thanks to Councilman Larry Green's involvement; but, that left Sheri hunting down over $125,000 CASH. The family could not get a mortgage as the sole income was lying in a hospital bed. The family put signature loans under her kids names and put liens on property. The belief was she would worry about it later; she had to get Ronny into a home; not a hotel (which was offered) or a convalescent home, which was also offered.
Now, she is paying all of the loans with no income and the savings is running out. The hope was one day to sale the home they shared for 20 years; but, at this time of year, the house won't sale. They will wait until early spring to test the market again.
The Cortez family has been given an option of Stem Cell Treatment by Dr. Stanley Jones. This is the only hope of Ronny walking or repairing his vision. But, currently there is no money for this treatment and insurance won't pay for it.
Organizer and beneficiary
Shawn Demaree
Organizer
Rosslyn, TX
Sheri Cortez
Beneficiary