Splash pad shooting survivors share gratitude for ‘the greatest gift’
Content warning: This story mentions instances of gun violence involving children.
Josh, Johanna and Janek Bebout
Eight-year-old gunshot survivor Janek Bebout wanted his care team to know that “they did the best job ever” and the doctors did “super super good.”
“Because if they hadn’t done special stuff, I would be in heaven now because I was there,” he said. “Because I had doctors, I was told I had a choice. And I decided to come back and thank you so much.”
On June 15, Janek was shot in the head during a Rochester Hills splash pad shooting. While in the hospital, he stopped breathing and had to be resuscitated. His 4-year-old brother, Julen, was shot in the leg.
But their wounds would have been much worse if their mother, Johanna, hadn’t thrown herself in front of them and taken multiple gunshots. It took three weeks and six surgeries to repair all the damage.
The family was taken to Corewell Health Beaumont Troy Hospital and Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital. And it was at our Troy hospital where the family returned on Nov. 21 to thank the nurses, doctors, paramedics and law enforcement representatives who supported them.
“My family survived this unimaginable tragedy, and they survived it because of you,” Josh, Johanna’s husband and Janek and Julen’s dad, told team members. “You all gave every bit of your energy, skill, compassion, care and kindness to a family who had been shattered by violence. You picked up the pieces of our lives and delicately put them back together piece by piece.”
Kayela Gamble, RN, speaks with the Bebout family
Many tears and hugs were shared by team members and the family. Josh said it was an emotional day, but a joyous one, because he got to speak with the people who saved his family.
It was wonderful for team members to see how the family has recovered. Kayela Gamble, RN, was the trauma program manager at Troy when the shooting happened and has been with the family every step of the way.
She recalled her heart racing and stomach sinking as one after another, multiple level one trauma activations rolled in after the shooting and she knew something was very wrong.
Five months later, she was pleased to reintroduce the family, one of the bravest, strongest and most loving she’s known, to our team.
“This is going to provide closure and we couldn’t be more thankful to have you here,” she told them. “You’re one of us, you are part of our community.”
The care team was excited to talk to and laugh with the family, many of whom they hadn’t seen since the day of the shooting. Richard Veyna, M.D., trauma surgeon, who was able to relieve the pressure on Janek’s brain and let his dad know he was alive, said that day was “very highly coordinated chaos” and he’s always humbled to see a group of doctors work that way.
Janek speaks with Dr. Veyna
Jonathan Lezotte, D.O., trauma surgeon, was on call that night. He said that everyone — certified registered nurse anesthetists, nurses, physician assistants — responded so fast that night and it was “surreal” to have the family back. Last time he saw them, they were asleep in the operating room.
He said the care team doesn’t always get to see the people they’ve helped, especially months after they’ve left the hospital, and Trevor Eckenswiller, D.O., emergency medicine, agreed with that sentiment.
“Thank you for being here and showing us your path,” Dr. Eckenswiller said to the Bebout family. “You are so strong. I don't think there's ever been more relief in the history of medicine.”
Although one act of evil can be devastating, kindness and goodness will prevail, Josh said.
One person caused incredible damage to his family and other families that day, but they have witnessed thousands of acts of kindness from strangers since.
“You have given me the greatest gift I could ever receive, my family,” Josh told the care team. “You saved their lives. You saved my life by saving theirs. The gratitude I feel for all of you knows no end.”
