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DURHAM -- Reyes Abreo Gonzalez doesn’t remember much of 2012 so far. He also has trouble recognizing the people who come to visit him at the hospital.
But for his family and friends, just seeing him awake lifts their spirits.
On Dec. 30, Gonzalez was struck by a Durham city truck shortly before 8 a.m. on his way to work at Guglhupf Café.
The father of five was taken to Durham University Hospital, where he was in a coma for nine days and had broken two ribs, his femur and his shoulder.
Gladys Abreo Gonzalez, his wife, said Reyes is disoriented and lost his coordination, but there’s lots of hope for him.
“He only recognizes me about 30 percent of the time,” she said. “He believes he’s in Mexico.”
She said Gonzalez will spend two more weeks at the hospital before beginning physical therapy but has no idea how long it will take him to fully recover.
Gladys Abreo Gonzalez said she will not be able to work at her job at El Centro Hispano as much to help in caring for Reyes.
One bright spot, however, in the Gonzalez family’s tragedy has been the community’s support, she said.
Elisabeth Hargrove, the bilingual home-based coordinator for Durham Early Head Start, said that Kevin, the Gonzalez’s 4-year-old son, was there when his father was admitted to the hospital and tried to speak with him.
“He kept saying, ‘Papa, wake up,’” Hargrove said.
Kevin used to attend Miss Mollie’s School of Grace, a preschool program through Grace Lutheran Church that occasionally works in tandem with Head Start.
Jean Sam, director of Miss Mollie’s School, said that after the pastor of Grace Lutheran Church spoke about the tragedy, churchgoers donated $500 by the end of that day to help the family. Sam said they have since raised a total of $1,140 for the family.
“We know it will be helpful for day-to-day expenses because he’s the main breadwinner,” she said.
Grace Lutheran Church is still accepting donations to help the Gonzalez family.
Alice Stevens, a barista at Guglhupf Café, said that a collection box was also set out during a staff party, and there have been discussions about potentially hosting a fundraiser to help the Gonzalez family.
