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Gregory J, Jaskolka

In honor of Joseph B. Jaskolka

In the early moments of New Year’s Day 1999, my son Joseph B. Jaskolka was shot in the head by someone who fired their gun into the air to celebrate the new year in Philadelphia. This random act of reckless stupidity changed my family’s lives forever. Although he survived, he is hemiplegic and confined to life in a wheelchair. He has had 36 brain surgeries, 25 surgeries to realign his eyes and a plethora of complications from these procedures. He still has the bullet lodged in his brain to this day. Only as a result of the magic of medical technology, the expertise of some of the finest doctors on this planet, and the amazing will to live has he managed to continue his life. We love him and are extremely proud of his tenacity.

Reacting shows support for gun violence survivors.

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