“Oh dear he has a gun.”

About 9 days later I remember the nurse.

9 days after 3 shots left the 45 magnum. One passed through the left side of my face, taking out my top lip, jaw and teeth and breaking the bottom jaw. A second skimmed the back of my head fracturing my skull and leaving a bone deep wound. The third grazed my right cheek.

I was lucky that day. Lucky nothing hit my brain. Lucky the paramedics picked me up so quickly. Lucky for the skills and tenacity of the medical team that saved my life (including plastic surgeons).

Later plastic surgeons rebuilt my face. They mended the hole so that I could be understood when I talk and could eat solid food without losing most of it.  They rebuilt the bones around my eye so I could read again.

They saved my life and gave me back the ability to live the way I want.

I want to thank them.

I want to make sure others have the opportunity to benefit as I have.

I want to tell you how important it is to understand the effects that surgery can have in giving people back the lives that they want to live.