A five-year-old boy shot five times in the Texas church massacre is still recovering in hospital but his family say he remains in good spirits despite needing more surgery.
Ryland Ward has been hospitalized ever since the tragic shooting inside the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs on November 5.
The little boy was shot five times while his stepmother Joann Ward and his two sisters – Brooke Ward, five, and 7-year-old Emily Garza – were three of the 26 people killed.
Ryland’s great uncle, Earl McMahan, said the boy has already had several surgeries and that doctors at University Hospital in San Antonio continue treating his arm and intestines.
Ryland Ward has been hospitalized since the shooting inside the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs on November 5. He is pictured above with dad Chris and sister Rhianna
‘From day one they fought to keep him alive and harder to actually stay alive,’ McMahan said, according to KSAT-TV. ‘We really can’t put into words how we feel about that. These people here are awesome – just awesome.’
Doctors planned to perform surgery to make sure one of his kidneys is functioning well and will later treat Ryland’s leg, which has a brace with screws and pins from his hip down to his femur.
Ryland has also received skin grafts for his arm.
He will likely be released from the hospital before February.
Ryland’s family said they haven’t spoken to the boy about the shooting and will do so when he is ready. His nine-year-old sister Rhianna also survived the massacre.
Ryland (above with his dad) has already had several surgeries and is set to undergo more before his release from hospital early next year
Joann Ward (pictured) died shielding her four young children when a gunman opened fire inside a Texas church in Sutherland Springs on November 5
Ryland’s sisters six-year-old Brooke (left) and eight-year-old Emily Garza (far right next to her sister Rihanna) were also killed in the shooting
McMahan said Ryland woke up after one of his surgeries and said that, ‘Bad man shot JoJo and shot me.’ Family members said Ryland called his stepmother ‘JoJo.’
Ryland’s grandmother, Sandy Ward, said earlier this month that the little boy’s Christmas wish was to receive cards with a dollar inside as he prepares to spend the holidays in hospital.
He has already received between 2,000 and 3,000 Christmas cards from across the nation.
‘I brought him a couple cards the other day and I had a bag that had a little gift in it and he looked at it real quick and he wanted the cards,’ Earl said.
‘He just loves tearing into them and reading them.’
McMahan said his family is holding up well and that as long Ryland is in good spirits, they will be too.
A GoFundMe has been set up for Joann Ward’s two surviving children. Christmas cards can be mailed to Ryland Ward, PO Box 174, Sutherland Springs, Texas 78161.
Ryland’s great uncle Earl McMahan and his grandmother Laura Barker (pictured speaking to the media on Monday) said Ryland is holding up well
Ryland’s family said they haven’t spoken to the boy about the church shooting and will do so when he is ready