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On April 11, my husband, David Gotte, was trying repeatedly to get in touch with an elderly relative who was not answering the phone. Due to the decline of this person's health, David decided to go check on them. When he got there, he proceeded to knock on all of the windows and doors, calling out to identify himself and expressing concern. Remembering that this person keeps a loaded pistol next to their bed, he called his brother to meet him there, where they would contact local police to enter the home.
Seeing a movement and hearing the blinds move, David moved to the front door and saw the relative through the door. He identified himself again, making eye contact and saying, "Are you okay?" and was shot through the door with a .357 magnum. He was able to remove himself to the bushes for safety, call his brother to get an ambulance on the way, and call me to stay on the phone until the medics arrived.
I have never, ever in my life experienced such fear as I did when I received that call. I actually thought he was joking, until I realized that the ragged breathing wasn't stopping and he was panicking. I immediately put my phone and speaker and texted my mom and Keagon's mom to come over ASAP because David had been shot. Twenty horrific minutes later, the medics arrived and I had to hang up and coordinate children so that I could go to the hospital.
David was airlifted to Lafayette General where we found out that the bullet had gone between his ribs, through his liver, and through the back of his ribcage, without breaking any of the ribs. He was in so much pain, but in the middle of that, a miracle. Because of the way he was up against the door, and the fact that it was solid wood, it didn't hit his lungs or intestines and the bullet was not hollow point. Before he left home, we talked about him bringing one of the kids for the ride but dismissed it because we didn't know what he would find. We discussed me going instead. So many factors that could have changed the situation exponentially and yet, David got the perfect gunshot wound if there is such a thing.
We left the hospital on Saturday with basically “no big deal” discharge instructions, but that didn't feel right to me. I've obviously never dealt with a gunshot wound before and asked about pneumonia several times with it being dismissed as no big deal to watch for. That did not satisfy me so I made him a follow up appointment with our primary care doctor. Lo and behold, he had fluid in his lungs and if it didn't go away, he would be readmitted.
His pain was managed effectively (shout out to Dr James McNally at Jeff Davis Family Medicine) and the fluid went down, but is still being closely monitored. As of right now, he will not be going back to work until at least May 1. His job is secure, but we will now be faced with medical bills, as we found out later that the relative does not have homeowners insurance and obviously we won't be suing an elderly person on a fixed income. We care about their quality of life or else we wouldn't have been checking on them. They do not, however, have their weapons anymore.
What I am getting at is that our entire family has been traumatized. For twenty minutes, I didn't know if my husband would ever come home. For over twenty minutes, his brother Harvey and sister- in - law Dana had no idea if he was alive when they were cordoned off a block away. I had to tell our children, “Daddy got shot, but he's going to be okay.” The relative who shot him is devastated. He had no recollection of what happened at all, and yes, that is being addressed with medical professionals as well. We had no idea that anything was off enough with their health that something like this EVER would have happened. David did everything right, but we will be dealing with this for a little bit longer. We cant express how grateful we are for your prayers.
He is now on the road to recovery, feeling better, no more fever, able to putter around and do light activities, and we are just so thankful. The only real problem is, David does not qualify for short term disability because he has not been with the company for a full year. Altogether, we will be out about $13,000 between missed pay, wound care, prescriptions, follow up copays,
and medical bills. We are extremely blessed in that, especially because JUST the hospital bill is $31,000. That is not including the ambulance or airmed. We appreciate any help and all prayers. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
Seeing a movement and hearing the blinds move, David moved to the front door and saw the relative through the door. He identified himself again, making eye contact and saying, "Are you okay?" and was shot through the door with a .357 magnum. He was able to remove himself to the bushes for safety, call his brother to get an ambulance on the way, and call me to stay on the phone until the medics arrived.
I have never, ever in my life experienced such fear as I did when I received that call. I actually thought he was joking, until I realized that the ragged breathing wasn't stopping and he was panicking. I immediately put my phone and speaker and texted my mom and Keagon's mom to come over ASAP because David had been shot. Twenty horrific minutes later, the medics arrived and I had to hang up and coordinate children so that I could go to the hospital.
David was airlifted to Lafayette General where we found out that the bullet had gone between his ribs, through his liver, and through the back of his ribcage, without breaking any of the ribs. He was in so much pain, but in the middle of that, a miracle. Because of the way he was up against the door, and the fact that it was solid wood, it didn't hit his lungs or intestines and the bullet was not hollow point. Before he left home, we talked about him bringing one of the kids for the ride but dismissed it because we didn't know what he would find. We discussed me going instead. So many factors that could have changed the situation exponentially and yet, David got the perfect gunshot wound if there is such a thing.
We left the hospital on Saturday with basically “no big deal” discharge instructions, but that didn't feel right to me. I've obviously never dealt with a gunshot wound before and asked about pneumonia several times with it being dismissed as no big deal to watch for. That did not satisfy me so I made him a follow up appointment with our primary care doctor. Lo and behold, he had fluid in his lungs and if it didn't go away, he would be readmitted.
His pain was managed effectively (shout out to Dr James McNally at Jeff Davis Family Medicine) and the fluid went down, but is still being closely monitored. As of right now, he will not be going back to work until at least May 1. His job is secure, but we will now be faced with medical bills, as we found out later that the relative does not have homeowners insurance and obviously we won't be suing an elderly person on a fixed income. We care about their quality of life or else we wouldn't have been checking on them. They do not, however, have their weapons anymore.
What I am getting at is that our entire family has been traumatized. For twenty minutes, I didn't know if my husband would ever come home. For over twenty minutes, his brother Harvey and sister- in - law Dana had no idea if he was alive when they were cordoned off a block away. I had to tell our children, “Daddy got shot, but he's going to be okay.” The relative who shot him is devastated. He had no recollection of what happened at all, and yes, that is being addressed with medical professionals as well. We had no idea that anything was off enough with their health that something like this EVER would have happened. David did everything right, but we will be dealing with this for a little bit longer. We cant express how grateful we are for your prayers.
He is now on the road to recovery, feeling better, no more fever, able to putter around and do light activities, and we are just so thankful. The only real problem is, David does not qualify for short term disability because he has not been with the company for a full year. Altogether, we will be out about $13,000 between missed pay, wound care, prescriptions, follow up copays,
and medical bills. We are extremely blessed in that, especially because JUST the hospital bill is $31,000. That is not including the ambulance or airmed. We appreciate any help and all prayers. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.