Even a bullet couldn't stop Joey's education.
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GoFundMe for Joseph Hickman to raise funds to cover current and future medical, living, and educational expenses due to being shot during a random act of violence.
Please be understanding, this is a work in progress and I am doing the best I can at this time. As things slowly progress to my full recovery, hopefully. I will continue to work on this, trying to tell what happened while working through the events myself.
Thank you for taking the time to look, and thank you for any help you may provide. Even if it is simply sharing this with others.
Date it happened: April 24, 2022
Waco Tribune and Harold article:
https://wacotrib.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/no-suspects-yet-in-three-weekend-shootings-that-left-five-injured/article_d9fe20c4-c4d5-11ec-b518-13e8be55a3cb.html#tncms-source=signup
Channel 10 news article:
Channel 25 news article:
Initial Injuries explained in ICU: 7.62 mm rifle round entered the body at the left kidney.
Cracking two transitional vertebrae, including breaking off a
piece of one vertebra while passing through.
Round continued traveling and exploded the colon. Requiring
the removal of over 50 percent of the colon and a portion of
intestine. As well as the installation of an ileostomy.
Including the loss of over 50 percent of blood
Complications: While performing scans for diagnostic purposes, an abscess was found in the
bullet wound track. As well as blood clots in the left lung, and possible clots
in the left leg. The blood clots required an additional ER visit to begin IV
anticoagulants.
While performing diagnostics on the abscess. It was discovered that the
remaining lower portion of colon had begun leaking back into the abdominal
cavity. Causing the bullet wound track to remain open and allow the
discharge a path to exit. The traditional correction for this is the installation of
an ileostomy. Indicating this issue can only be addressed during the
ileostomy reversal process.
Length of hospital stay: One week in ICU Critical Care Unit
One week in hospital room
Number of surgeries: Estimated 5 total. Three for initial treatment and two for reversal of ileostomy.
Current outstanding Medical Cost: $162,093.06 as of August 19, 2022
Hello, my name is Joseph Hickman. Most have known me as Joe or Joey over the years.
Some even referred to me as "that big scary red head" for a bit recently. It all depends on where they met me. Though it didn’t matter where I was
Working on a degree at Texas State Technical College in Waco, Texas
(Associates of Applied Sciences in Welding Technologies May 29, 2020. Began program in 2018 after returning from Puerto Rico.)
Surviving epileptic seizures and hurricanes in Puerto Rico
(Mayagüez, Puerto Rico in 2017. Shortly after, Clean Oceans relocated to Ponce due to storm damage from Hurricane Irma. Followed by Hurricane Maria striking and devastating the island. While the crew of the Chickasaw was assisting in bringing the Port of Ponce back online. I had my first grand mal seizure and was returned to Waco, Texas for “rest and relaxation, with no need to seek further medical attention.”
Due to knowing my crew’s lives depended on me also, I sought a diagnosis in order to prevent any further incidences. At which point I was diagnosed with Non-photoactive Bilateral Epilepsy and placed on medication. After informing Clean Oceans I was immediately terminated without the company returning any of my personal belongings or documents. As of August 8, 2022, I have not had any more seizures, or any of my belongings returned.)
On a vessel in the Offshore Oil and Gas industry
(Tensioner Operators cabin on the G1200 with Technip in 2013)
(Shipyard ID from 2006 while on the Chickasaw with Global Industries)
Working with special needs individuals by assisting with life skill classes, or having a blast with the athletes at a Special Olympics event
Being employed by non-profit organizations, such as Caritas and Camp Fire USA
Bending and assembling duct work at the Lochridge Priest sheet metal shop
Turning wrenches in a shop as a mechanic, or on other’s vehicles and equipment
Making rounds through the pods as a correctional officer,
Behind the grill in a kitchen at Sonic or making a sandwich at Subway,
Or even helping with security and other task at clubs and venues.
Everyone knew I've always tried my best to make my own way, and to help others as I could. Even to the detriment of myself, while others warned me not to.
Unfortunately, this has been proven to be true once again. Yet this time I find myself in a position of having to ask others for help.
To say it has been an interesting life would be an understatement. Most have told me that if they didn't know me, they wouldn't have believed most of it. In fact, the nurses and staff at Baylor Scott and White Hillcrest in Waco nicknamed me “The Dos Equis Man.”
On April 24, 2022, around 1:40 AM another unexpected and insane chapter began.
I was earning a little extra by assisting with ID checks, security, and task as needed at Mr. Magoo’s Sports club here in Waco, Texas. Something I started doing while working on an Associates in Welding Technologies in 2018 to help keep afloat financially. We all know every bit of money helps while pursuing degrees and living on student loans. And what better way for a student to make a little extra. So, I continued assisting them to keep afloat while pursuing two more Associates degrees before returning to the field in January 2023. Or at least that was the plan.
Towards the end of the night, I heard two rounds fired somewhere extremely close by. As soon as I heard the second round, I was struck by one that had come from behind the club. The next thing I remember was saying "I'm hit, I'm hit, I'm going down." From what I was told later no one heard me. They only saw me go down amid the chaos that followed.
The round passed through a wooden privacy fence behind the club and traveled through the crowd of people trying to exit in a rush due to a fight inside. It then passed through a wooden gate and entered my left kidney. I felt the burn spreading through my body as I tried to ensure my head wouldn't hit hard when I fell. I remember thinking on the way down, "it would almost be fitting to have my first seizure in almost 4 years because I hit my head, due to being shot".
The rest of that night is a mix of memories. Some are well defined, while others are just blurs that I’m not sure I can trust. The club patrons in the parking lot wondering who would have done such a thing to me. The officer applying pressure to restrict the bleeding. The ambulance crew working as hard as they could to save me. While I was trying to communicate with them through sign language. I even remember the trauma surgeon coming in and realizing I was signing. He told me to slow down, that he understood what I was saying. But the clearest memory is laying on the ground, feeling the burn spreading throughout my body, looking up and seeing where the round came through the gate before things went black the first time.
The following week was spent in the ICU Critical Care Unit of Scott and White Hillcrest in Waco, Texas. Where I was cared for by an amazing team of nurses and doctors. It’s difficult to describe just how dedicated they were to my care. Not only my immediate medical needs, but me as a whole person.
The nurses took time to talk to me about what happened. We had discussions about my past, the adventures I’ve had, and how I found myself lying there. Even about what I wanted to do with my future. They shared bits of their own lives and past with me. The reasons that they were there helping and doing whatever it took. These angels ensured that me and my family knew we were not alone in what was happening.
Dr. Cahill, the trauma surgeon, even took time to come in my room to speak with me and my family whenever possible. Making sure we understood exactly where everything stood, and what we could reasonably expect. He was completely honest, answering all our questions even when it wasn’t what we were hoping for. Apparently, I was the worst case he had ever seen in his career. He went to extremes to save me, even contacting his colleges across the nation to find the best way to treat my case. The general convention was that his patient should be considered deceased.
A 7.62 NATO round from an AK-47 had entered my left kidney. Cracking two transitional vertebrae and breaking off a piece of one off while continuing to wreak havoc. It proceeded in fragments to explode my colon with the force behind it. With one fragment exiting my body, threading the little space between my pancreas and aorta, and entering my car door.
It took three surgeries and 5 units of blood to stabilize me over the course of the week. Dr. Cahill and his team had to remove the bullet fragments, the remnants of my colon, and a section of my intestine in the first surgery. The additional two surgeries were required to remove an additional section of small intestine due to necrosis, and to install an ileostomy.
I have never really been one to rely on pain killers due to the fact they don’t work normally on me. It was during my time in the ICU that my team found out that we weren’t joking when we informed them. One point I vaguely remember coming too in what seemed like a panic, not fully realizing where I was. Only that I was restrained, all my limbs had been tied to the bed. Which of course made the panic worse, and I immediately pulled against all the restraints. Bowing the handrails in and panicking the medical staff in the room. Images of their eyes as I was sedated again burned into my memory.
Insomnia has always been a part of my life, ever since I was a small child. So of course, it would show its sunken eyes during times of stress such as it were. Yet the angels caring for me were there to assist in any way possible. We tried another form of sedation, one that was supposed to be strong enough to knock me out. Next thing I know, I find myself singing to the orcs, ogres, dwarves, dragons, and other Faye staring at me from the pictures, walls, and vents. Leading rounds of 18th century Irish sea chanties enjoying their smiles and voices.
It was after this that the decision was made to use fentanyl for my sedation needs while in the ICU. I can’t say that I distinctly remember them telling me about the decision. But I do remember the feeling of a warm oblivion washing over me. As I realized I was being dragged to the land of dreams for the first time in what seemed days. Hoping that they would be welcoming and not of that night. Because the first time I had found rest, it was the sound of two shots and the burning that jerked me back.
Organizer
Joey Hickman
Organizer
Waco, TX
