More than $1million has been raised for an eight-year-old child shot along an Oakland highway last month – after the stray bullet left him permanently paralyzed from the neck down.
‘His body is forever changed. At this point, he is experiencing complete paralysis below the neck,’ his family wrote in a heartbreaking GoFundMe.
The shooting happened on July 14 on Interstate 580 in Oakland. The child was riding in a car after having just been picked up from camp and on the way with his family to dinner and his grandparents’ home.
Two other cars started to shoot at each other and the innocent child was struck by a bullet.
‘We are profoundly relieved that our boy is alive and very much himself, and we are also starting to understand the vast implications of his new reality,’ the family noted. ‘Moving forward, Asa will require a mechanical respirator to live, tube feeds for nutrition, and 24-hour, around-the-clock nursing care.’
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More than $1million has been raised for eight-year-old Asa, who was struck by a stray bullet along an Oakland highway last month – leaving him permanently paralyzed from the neck down
The tragedy just happened to occur as the family drove down a stretch I-580 in Oakland where gunmen in two other cars had been shooting at each other. As of Thursday, nearly a month removed from the July shooting, cops have yet to make an arrest
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Police have not made any arrests in the case, according to KTVU.
The suspects in the other cars fled after the 6:30pm shooting. Investigators have not said what their dispute was over.
In little more than a week, a GoFundMe for Asa – the family asked not to be identified by their last name – donors have sent $1million. The family estimates that his care will cost that much in just the first year.
The stray bullet and bone fragments pierced the spinal column of his neck. That left the family wondering if he would even live.
Asa must have 24-hour nursing care, continuous physical and occupational therapy along with secondary surgeries. He will also travel to specialists in Baltimore.
The family said the home renovations and equipment, such as bedroom and bathroom mortifications and generators to keep his ventilators running will cost $150,000.
Transportation costs, such as a power wheelchair, will cost $45,000. His rehab will cost another $55,000.
‘We’re fiercely committed to doing everything we can to help Asa thrive which includes supporting his return to home life, school, and being the energetic, creative, and high-spirited 8-year-old he is,’ the GoFundMe read.
The campaign has twice surpassed its goal, first $250,000, then $500,000 and now has surpassed $1million.There have been six donations of at least $10,000, with the top one of $17,000, according to the page.
In little more than a week, a GoFundMe for Asa donors have sent $1million. There have been six donations of at least $10,000, with the top one of $17,000, according to the page
The stray bullet and bone fragments pierced the spinal column of his neck. That left the family wondering if he would even live
‘We hope you never know pain like this. At the same time, we hope that you may know (as we now do) the exquisite gift of children’s resilience,’ the family said
‘Never in a million years could we have predicted how Asa’s life – and all of our lives – would change so quickly, and completely. We are grieving, grateful and angry,’ the family noted.
The family also took time to thank the community for its support, including those who cooked meals for them or prayed for them. The support has helped them deal with the tragedy.
‘We hope you never know pain like this. At the same time, we hope that you may know (as we now do) the exquisite gift of children’s resilience,’ the page read.
The family asked for people to join causes such as Mom Demand Action and Youth Alive in Oakland to help support efforts to end gun violence.
‘Once we’ve wrapped our minds around our new lives with Asa,’ the family said, ‘we’ll be ready to join you all in the fight to stop this from happening to any other child, ever again.’