Esteban, The Rest Of The Story

News 5 WLWT
POSTED: 2:24 pm EDT October 22, 2009
Man In Critical Condition After Losing Legs In Crash
Esteban Gonzales Pinned Between Car, Store
UNION TOWNSHIP, Ohio --

Esteban Gonzales, 65, was struck when a truck jumped a curb at Goodwill around 1:45 p.m. on the 4000 block of Commercial Boulevard. One of Gonzales' legs was cut off by the impact of the crash and the other remained barely attached to his body, police said. Gonzales was airlifted to University Hospital, where he was in critical condition Friday morning.

Esteban Gonzales, a dishwasher and having little to spare, was at the Goodwill Store looking to see if he could buy a little used bicycle for the youngest daughter of a struggling single mother of three, who lived down stairs from him.

Due to the fast response time of the Union Township Police and life saving training of the Union Township Fire and Rescue teams, Esteban was extracted and kept alive until the Life Flight team arrived rushed him to University Hospital. During the short flight, the Life Flight team gave him an additional 7 units of blood, barely keeping alive. At the University Hospital, the Trauma Team took him, on the brink of death, and fought for his life. They fought with for him not only with great talent and ability, but with heart. The struggle was not for a few hours by a few people, but for weeks by many wonderful people. Once Esteban pulled through and was able, the Drake Center received him and began to teach him the new life skills that he would need.

Thursday, October 22nd was two days before he was to be baptized. Several days went by until he was conscious enough to see me. He asked how I was and then if he could still be baptized!

On February 13th, at 1 PM, Esteban will be baptized at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 700 Clough Pike, CINCINNATI, OH 45245

On behalf of Esteban Gonzales, I ask that each and every one of you that made this moment possible, to please come and celebrate his baptism and the new chance of life that you all gave him.

Cordially yours,
Don Stanton
513-943-4008