CHICAGO’s cop partner Ella French is awake and posted from her hospital bed ahead of her funeral.
Chicago Police Department officer Carlos Yanez Jr – who was shot alongside Frenchmen after a routine stop for the plates expired on August 7 – posted pictures of himself from the hospital.
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“Thank you for your support, donations and prayers,” Yanez Jr. said softly in the bedside video message to everyone, Chicago’s WGN9 reported.
“I’m doing all of this for you,” he said, addressing his son CJ and his wife Brenda.
The video ended with Yanez Jr – who was shot twice in the head the night his partner was fatally shot – sending kisses and greeting his loved ones.
Yanez Jr’s heartfelt message came out just a day before French’s funeral – which is due to take place Thursday morning at 9 a.m.
Doctors won’t know if Yanez Jr’s full motor skills will return, but they believe it could take up to three months to find out, according to the report.
Yanez Jr was shot in the right eye and on the top of the head.
French, 29, tragically died and two brothers were charged with her death.
His funeral will be held in the chapel of the Sanctuary of St. Rita de Cascia, the same location that held a memorial service for the deceased officer on Wednesday.
The event welcomed over a thousand people to the chapel as a large American flag hung from a Chicago Fire Department truck, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.
Mario Ponce, a former colleague of French, told the outlet: “You could feel the energy of her looking down on law enforcement and other first responders.
“It was a sad moment, but it was good to see everyone coming together to support not only her, but her family. “
Speaking at a vigil on Tuesday night, Yanez Jr’s father, Carlos Yanez Sr, said: “As a father, a parent, the way you love your children, no matter how strong, how tall they are – they are. always your children.
“And when they suffer, you suffer. “
The message comes a day after Yanez Jr has been photographed in hospital while facing a “potentially permanent handicap”.
A Page GoFundMe set up for Yanez shows the paralyzed officer in his hospital bed.
“During this incident, Carlos suffered multiple gunshot wounds to his eye, brain and shoulder, all causing potentially permanent disability,” the page says.
“In turn, we suspect that home modifications, housing and transportation must increase accessibility and quality of life.
“He had so many fractures to his face and his orbit during this incident, but luckily it was surgically repaired. We remain hopeful of a miraculous recovery, but we must prepare for what is to come. “
The page describes Yanez as a loving husband and father and a “real” friend who was ready to help someone else in times of need.
“As an officer he cared deeply for the district he served. He enjoyed doing physical labor, exercising, playing with his son while on vacation and he loved dancing, ”says the page.
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