On Sunday, May 22, Bong had to go through emergency surgery. The surgery was successful and he is currently recovering at the hospital. He was a victim of attempted robbery at an ATM drive thru and was shot in the abdomen. He was inside the car while the robber approached him through the window of the driver side. The bullet went through his abdomen and colon.

After multiple procedures and bouts with abscess, bleeding, infection and fluid accumulation the last 3 weeks, he is making steady progress towards complete healing estimated to take about 6 months. He needs encouragement and support to work through the pain and strengthen his lungs and breathing to fight other risks like pneumonia.

We are blessed and grateful to have Bong with us. He has been very brave. While this experience showed us what is wrong in our world, it has also shown us so much love and care and hope and kindness and compassion from family, friends and most of all strangers - strangers like those from Arby's, who ran to Bong and helped him with the 911 call and administered first aid, whose quick actions saved his life.

All the positive thoughts and prayers continue to help us through this. Our faith is strong and we know we will face this road to recovery with all your love and support. - Trixie Sarte - Sarmiento