While getting a family-inspired tattoo at a local trusted tattoo shop, on March 26, my brother, Benjamin Bettner, was a victim of poor gun safety at the hands of another man. Ben was sitting, watching TV while getting his family tattoo sleeve done when a man discharged a firearm in Ben's direction. The bullet entered his right side lower back and exited out the front. He was moved by ambulance to South Baldwin Medical Center, but they felt it in his best interest to transport him via helicopter to Ascension Sacred Heart in Pensacola. Once he was there, he was treated and released the same night.

We were all terrified due to the lack of information we were given, so of course, we all dropped everything to meet them at Ascension Sacred Heart. Thankfully, no vital organs were hit, and no immediate surgery was needed.

Ben is now facing other challenges such as extreme inflammation, lots of pain, and the high possibility of more procedures. Although antibiotics were administered in the hospital, the only medication he was sent home with was pain relief. Now the inflammation is debilitating with a major risk of infection. All of this means more time off work and more medical bills accumulating.

Ben has a beautiful family that counts on him, and they are overjoyed he was not fatally injured in this incident. Ben doesn’t want to ask for help and has been keeping all this to himself, but I know that the bills will pile up quickly.

I am asking for this goal to help with any household bills they have while only on a single income, medical bills such as the helicopter ride, or any new procedure bills that will come from all this.

Thank you for taking the time to help.