On December 23, 2021, my brother, Jesse Lopez, suffered from a gunshot wound to the stomach that ended up hitting his spine and resulted in him needing multiple surgeries. This incident devastated our whole family, especially being during the holidays.

 

Due to the bullet hitting his spine, he now has been dealing with nerve pain from the waist down, as well as back pain. He's currently in a brace and has been going to physical therapy to gain his strength back and help with his nerve damage.

 

He was admitted to UMC Trauma Center for 13 days and had to receive physical therapy immediately after. Since getting discharged from the hospital, Jesse has been having a great recovery. He originally left the hospital in a wheelchair and with a walker. He couldn't even handle the slightest touch to his legs without being in extreme pain. He's now able to walk by himself and has been regaining his balance. Everyday is a constant battle for him because of the nerve damage on his legs, which makes sleeping difficult. Jesse is also not able to bend, twist, or lift because of the spine surgery.

 

Jesse was originally very hesitant with asking for help, but after being denied financial help from the government and other programs, his bills and copays have been piling up. He has no way to pay for his medical expenses and needs to still continue physical therapy to get back to 100%. Anyone that knows him knows how hard working he is and how he hates asking for help, so every donation will be greatly appreciated.