Last week we brought you the story of 23-year-old Marcus Zelaya, a young man left paralyzed after he was shot five times, two years ago.
Since then, he has been on a slow road to recovery but things had gotten dire as his hospital bills started adding up - compounded with a nasty bedsore that was only getting worse.
His father pleaded for assistance on our newscast last week and since then he and his son have been helped by people across the country - and across borders. That was enough motivation for them to start up a small food venture to pay off the remaining debt. Courtney Menzies visited the small family again today and has this update.
A father and son duo is taking their recent stint of unfortunate events and turning things around.
A little over a week ago, Jose Zelaya Sr and his son, Marcus, were drowning in debt and desperation. Their appeal for assistance on our newscast touched the hearts of those in the private and public sector and since then, they have received support in the form of food and financial donations.
Now, they've taken that support and are venturing into the food business in order to raise funds for Marcus' surgery to remove his catheter.
Jose Zelaya Sr., Father
"I have to give thanks to all the people who come out with the pouring support. Groceries, we got a lot of groceries from people, a lot of medical supplies that my son needed to take care of the sore. I manage to get an air bed, couldn't get the waterbed because right now Chetumal close and that's the only place I could get it. So I'm grateful, and with the help we get, we just use it to turnover and help ourselves. Start a little fundraising. Today we started off with ceviche, we have shrimp, conch and mixed."
"We went to the doctor and we have another appointment the 26th again. Hopefully when we go back to the doctor he could tell us when they will do the surgery and what will be the cost of the surgery so right now I'm raising funds and help my son as you could see with the little bit that we've gotten from the people and put it with what we have and just try do the best."
They have received local and foreign donations - most of which have gone into paying the $15,000 bill at KHMH - and some into rent and medication Marcus needs for his head injury. Zelaya recalled the dark days they were faced with before getting the help they needed.
Jose Zelaya Sr., Father
"A week ago, we were really down. My son didn't even have motivation to come out of bed. Like one spell, he wanted to give up because of the way how the situation was. Bills was piling up, work isn't available right now, and the little bit we were making wasn't making me take care of how I wanted."
But now their spirits have been lifted and, according to Zelaya, they are on the path to positivity. Full of so much appreciation, he expressed his thanks to the staff at KHMH and to everyone who donated. He also expressed his forgiveness towards his son's shooter.
And Marcus feels the same way. He said he was floored by the amount of people willing to assist him - and wanted to say a few words of thanks.
Marcus Zelaya, Shooting Victim
"I just want to say that I'm grateful and appreciate all the help that I got and that people are giving because like my dad said, things were really rough and things were really bad with me and I had no strength or motivation. And the little help that people start to look out for me, I appreciate it a lot because it gave me motivation and strength to want to get up and help myself to get back."
"With that little help, I just decide that I want do something to help myself and show the people that I'm grateful because I've always done these little things before this but the little finance and everything start to get bad so nothing was happening."
The Zelaya family is planning a barbecue and a baked chicken sale next week Wednesday and Friday. They are still hoping to raise enough funds to purchase a waterbed to help with Marcus' bedsores.
If you want to assist the family, Jose Zelaya Sr can be reached at 664-6642, or the finances could be deposited into bank account number 211835111
