However, Latrell Weatherspoon, 8, is exceeding doctors expectations in his recovery and was allowed to return home to Jacksonville last week.
On the afternoon of February 11th, Latrell was playing outside his home on Henderson Road in Onslow County, with a friend.
He says two pit bulls from the neighbors yard charged him. He tried to get away on his bike.
"They pulled me in the ditch and started biting me. When it first happened I thought I was going to die," said the young boy.
Latrell's mother, Kimberly, says her young daughter, who had also been outside, ran inside to tell her what was happening. Kimberly Weatherspoon says a neighbor who ran in to save Latrell was holding the more aggressive pit bull back while the other dog backed off on its own. Weatherspoon says when she got to her son she laid with him in the ditch until emergency crews arrived.
"He thought he was dying and I didn't know what to tell him because it was just that bad," said Kimberly Weatherspoon.
Latrell had 51 staples put in his right arm where the dogs tore his flesh and muscle tissue. He also suffered severe flesh wounds on his face. Doctors grafted skin from Latrell's shoulder area and behind his ear to rebuild parts his eyelid and repair other areas of his face.
Doctors at New Hanover Regional Medical Center in Wilmington tell the family Latrell will need several more surgeries and it will take about two years for him to fully recover. His mother says he'll be home schooled for the rest of this school year.
Latrell's progress has been documented on a "gofundme" site set up to help the family with medical bills. Many people were concerned about him.
"I want them to know that I'm doing good and I'm feeling kind of better," said Latrell.
Latrell is very athletic and an avid sports player. He's looking forward to being able to play outside again.
"I want to be able to...play football again, play baseball again, play basketball with my friend again," he said.
According to the sheriff's office one of the pit bulls involved in the attack was killed at the scene by deputies. Onslow County Animal Services officials say the other dog was later euthanized for continuing to exhibit aggressive behavior after a 10-day quarantine period.
The dogs owner was cited by OCAS for failure to control her animals and failure to produce vaccination records.
(WCTI12 - March 9, 2015)
Earlier:
No comments:
Post a Comment