Bryan Stow

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Take a good look....

This is my friend, Bryan Stow. If you have been paying attention to the world, you will know that name from the news. He is a dedicated Paramedic and co-worker of mine in Santa Clara county, and a resident of Santa Cruz with two children, a family, a loving girlfriend, and hundreds of people that miss him intensely.

He was attacked at Dodger's Stadium Thursday night by "punk ass Dodger Fans" as he left the season opener with three friends, all dressed in SF Giants clothing. He was sucker punched from behind, knocked to the ground, punched and kicked, hit his head, and sustained a VERY severe head injury. He is in critical condition at LAC/USC Medical Center in Los Angeles. He is in a medically induced coma with a portion of his skull not in place to keep intracranial pressure from killing him. I am privy to many details of his condition that give me great grief, but are kept out of the media and general public at the wishes of his family.

But that is not what this post is about. I am going to break from the mold of doom and gloom and tell you what gives me hope and refreshes my soul.

I received an email from a friend of mine today that put this event in a new perspective for me. Today, I smiled while thinking of him for the first time since I found about about the attack and his condition. No tears today! Let me tell you why:

Take a look at his picture. Does he look like an angel? Hell no! Bryan is, as described by my friend:

"he's a solid medic...but also because he's kind of a punk, and a cocky little fucker, and fun to be around, and inappropriate in all the best ways"

and....

"Bryan Stow is anything an angel, but that's what is cool about him. I just want to celebrate all of him - the good stuff and the stuff that pissed people off - because it's all part of what makes up this guy that we love."

I couldn't have said it better myself. From today on, when I think of Bryan, I'm gonna think of that and try to smile instead of cry. I just want my cocky little fucker back.