Imagine going to your favourite Fried Chicken spot for a late night snack, but to end up in the hospital, without one leg. That's what happened to Francis Gill in 2014.
On a Friday night, he went to Key Ley Fried CHICKEN on Freetown Road - and in the hustle and bustle of the late night rush, he had some hard words with another customer. Little did he know that the man he was beefing with, 36 year old Devon Jones would jump into his truck, ram into gill, and crush his leg against the wall of the restaurant.
He still has to provide for himself and his family, which is now a difficult task because of the disability.
But, he's not willowing in self-pity and depression. Instead, he's been trying to walk again, and today, he sat down with us to discuss what it has been like for him. Daniel Ortiz has that story:
Daniel Ortiz reporting
Standing up without help, and walking around freely… It's a luxury that most of us take for granted.
There are some who prefer to be driven everywhere, but the ability to walk is what Francis Gill has been fighting to regain.
He had to endure an above-the-knee amputation after he was run over 8 months ago. He still struggles with the difficulties that accompanied his slow recovery.
But, through willpower, he's now moving and even riding, with the aid of a prosthetic leg.
Francis Gill - Amputee
"From time to time I do have a little discomfort, pain but I try to be positive about it because you can't get medication for everything. So you have to fight through the little pain that you have because it's going to be a constant thing for the rest of my life."
Today, he shared with us how he managed to survive what possibly was the lowest point in his life.
Francis Gill - Amputee
"Before the accident I was a physical person. I enjoyed body building, sports, swimming, doing stuff with my family, but since the accident it's been a challenge. Physically, it's not too hard for me. I believe that I had the proper prosthetic I would be about ninety percent of the things I would be able to do. The mental challenge is what has to be dealt with for most of the part, losing a part of your body or a limb. For me it wasn't hard when I first got my prosthetic, because from the time I woke up and saw that I didn't have any leg I knew that I would walk again. So it wasn't a challenge for me. It's just that I was a physical person and as I put on the prosthetic I started trying to walk. Having family members around you who constantly show you love, having people who you know you can talk with and laugh with, it helps a lot."
Daniel Ortiz
"Was there ever a point after the accident where you saw a whole individual, someone with all their limbs intact and thought to yourself, that person is wasting his potential?"
Francis Gill - Amputee
"Wow, you see that every day. Me being an amputee, I still try to help myself every day. I don't want to be out there on the street corner begging. I try to do stuff to help myself. It's funny how people take life and take things for granted every day, because I was 43 years old and lost my leg and now it's a total different. Like I said the mental aspect of it is challenging."
Gill is moving on to the point where he says he bears no ill-will toward Devon Jones, the man who police criminally charged for running him over after they had a quarrel.
Daniel Ortiz
"Did you feel rage at him? Do you still feel rage at him? Have you forgiven him?"
Francis Gill - Amputee
"I have never felt rage at this man. To this day, I have no ill feeling. I believe that things happen in life. Whatever took place that night, it happened, but I have a family, he has a family, what good would it do to take revenge. We all live in the same country. Yes, it's different but that doesn't even cross my mind. I have forgiven him and I'm going to try to continue live my life and take care of my family."
Daniel Ortiz
"Initially persons who saw the news and realize that you had won several hundred thousand dollars, they would say that Mr. Francis come up. Explain to us how you've had to explain to them or how you had to show them that it's not what they think it is?"
Francis Gill - Amputee
"Well yes I won, but I didn't get any money. It's a process that you must go through with the insurance company and to this day I still have not seen any money and my lawyer is trying to make sure that he gets the money from them, but it's not that you walk down the court step and you have money in your hand. It's a process that you must go through."
That other important process of getting back to a normal life, Gill wants to use his experience to inspire other amputees to fight through like he did and get on with life.
Francis Gill - Amputee
"I would share my situation with them and I would show them some of the things that I do for myself with my amputated leg. I could ride my bike. I do many things for myself. Life is not over because you are an amputee. Life has just begun. It's just a slower way you must adjust and learn to do the same things that you used to do. Once you get used to the leg, everything would be easy again. It's not hard because as long as you have life, as long as God gives your health and strength there's nothing out there you can't do being amputated or not."
Gill sued Devin Jones in a civil suit, and Justice Shona Griffith awarded him just over 200 thousand dollars in compensation. He hasn't gotten paid yet, and that in itself might be a process.
Apart from paying that 200 thousand dollar award, Devon Jones still has to face a criminal trial for maiming Francis Gill.
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