After surviving the largest mass shooting in American history, Pulse nightclub victim Angel Santiago, a 32-year-old used car salesman, was admitted to Florida Hospital Orlando. Mr. Santiago's experience inspired him to pursue a career in nursing.
Kathleen McGrory tells Mr. Santiago's story in a Tampa Bay Times feature.
According to the feature, Mr. Santiago was often teased and self-conscious of both his body and his sexuality when he was young. His parents struggled to come to terms with his sexuality. After spending his twenties listless and moving from job to job, Mr. Santiago settled into a position as a used car salesmen. The job did not suit Mr. Santiago. He dreaded heading to work every morning and struggled to sell enough cars to keep his pay above minimum wage.
On June 12, Mr. Santiago was shot right leg below his knee and in his left foot. He was shot while taking shelter in the restroom among dozens of others, some of whom died after the gunmen sprayed the room with bullets.
During his time at Florida Hospital Orlando, Mr. Santiago developed a bond with a night-shift nurse named Melissa Lovemore-Wright, RN. Ms. Lovemore-Wright took notice of Mr. Santiago's persistent despondency and engaged him in conversation about his life and experiences. Later, Mr. Santiago joked about not wanting to leave the hospital.
Ms. McGrory writes:
The accommodations were pretty nice, he said, and the nurses were starting to feel like family.
"Can I just stay here?" he said. "Get a job?"
Lovemore-Wright paused. "Actually, you could."
"As a janitor?"
"As a nurse."
While Mr. Santiago thought he might actually enjoy becoming a nurse, he didn't think he could afford it.
Both Florida Hospital Orlando and HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital forgave his medical bills, and OneOrlando Fund for shooting victims and their families awarded him $300,000. After learning of the funds, Mr. Santiago quit his used car salesman job and applied to the nursing program at Valencia College in Orlando. He was accepted and is set to begin classes in January.
To read the full story in the Tampa Bay Times, click here.
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