By Tony Hernandez
The Oregonian
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Oregon State trooper critically injured in a Christmas Day shootout has taken his first crucial steps, literally, toward going home from the hospital.
Nic Cederberg’s family on Monday posted a video on YouTube showing the trooper in gray pants and a black t-shirt taking 26 steps with the support of nearby hospital workers. Cederberg suffered multiple gunshot wounds after he chased a homicide suspect in Washington County.
“On Saturday, he walked 342 feet using a walker during his five physical therapy sessions,” brother Jeff Cederberg wrote Monday on his Facebook page. “And on Thursday, he walked for the very first time since the shooting. He was only able to cover about six to ten feet before taking a short break, but it was much needed progress for him and for us.”
Jeff Cederberg could not be immediately reached for comment. A GoFundMe page, which also shows the YouTube video, has raised $86,595 out of a $100,000 goal from 1,202 people as of noon Tuesday.
His brother was shot seven times at close range, in both arms, his abdomen and spinal canal, Jeff Cederberg wrote on Jan. 9. A bulletproof vest blocked another five bullets that police say were shot from James Tylka, who is suspected of killing his estranged wife, Katelynn Armand, in King City.
Cederberg has suffered intense pain and numbness “described as having his right leg wrapped in white hot metal,” his brother wrote. “Simply blowing on it would send him up the pain scale.”
But the pain did not discourage the trooper, and as the suffering subsided, Cederberg’s resolve has swelled. He is signing up for as much extra physical therapy his facility will allow.
“He always sets the bar higher the next day,” Jeff Cederberg wrote, “because the only way he said he is willing to go home is if he can walk through the front door on his own with (wife) Hayley Shelton right beside him.”
Copyright 2017 The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.)