SAN ANTONIO -- Maggie McCombs has the spirit of a survivor.
The 21-year-old and her friend, 31-year old Juan Escamilla, were shot outside of a Planet Fitness gym on the North Side back in January. Juan was killed. But Maggie survived, even though she'd been shot 5 times. She is now home from the hospital after a long and painful recovery.
“I feel there is a reason that I did survive," Maggie told us. "There are days I've woken up, and I just felt like giving up and that I would not be able to handle it and go through all this.”
Maggie is talking about all the challenges of not being able to care for herself. The shooting left her paralyzed from the shoulders down. She has no feeling, even in her arms or hands. Maggie is also coping with the loss of her friend Juan, who she misses very much. Some of her strength she says comes from knowing Juan would want her to go on.
"That's what he would want me to do. I don't think he would of wanted me to give up. If he was here, he would be right by me, pushing me,” said Maggie.
Juan’s family and Maggie's friends and family are helping her on her journey. A journey that's given her new hope and new purpose.
“I feel there is a reason that I did survive. Live your life to the fullest and don't take things for granted," advised Maggie. "That's one big thing I've learned. Take time to appreciate the smaller things in life.”
Maggie's parents are also facing financial challenges related to her medical care and renovations that need to be done to their home to make it wheelchair accessible. They also need to buy a vehicle that can accommodate her wheelchair, but they are staying positive through it all. A fund has been set up to help the family at Jefferson Bank under Eugenia McCombs for the benefit of Maggie.
The man accused of shooting McCombs and Escamilla, Yu Masaki, is in jail and charged with murder. A court date has been set for June 15th, but no trial date has been set.
