Co-workers of David Shebib’s mom set up fund, raised $1,400 so
far
Morgan Hill – A group of Hitachi co-workers has started a fund drive to help a Morgan Hill family whose son was injured last month fighting in Iraq.
The fund is to help David Shebib, 22, a U.S. Army Medic who was hurt by a roadside bomb Dec. 28.
They’ve raised about $1,400 and have set up a bank account so the public can also donate.
Members of the group are friends and co-workers of Shebib’s mom, Charlene, a Morgan Hill resident and senior lab specialist at Hitachi Global Storage Technologies in San Jose.
About 50 employees have contributed.
Gina Whitney, Charlene’s friend and lab manager who helped start the fund drive Jan. 8, said the employees were eager to show their support.
“Basically, a lot of folks here wanted to help out with the family’s expenses, as far as travel,” said Whitney, who’s known Charlene for about 15 years.
The co-workers have also sent cards and other items of comfort to the Shebib family.
Whitney said she was “deeply saddened” when she heard the news about David Shebib, who is recovering at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., with family members by his side.
Charlene said her son is doing well in his difficult recovery. He is lucid, able to speak, move his arms and walk and send e-mails to his friends. But he will need extensive physical therapy and months of treatment to regain full strength.
“He’s getting his endurance back,” said Charlene, adding David’s lost about 20 pounds. “He’s just very fragile.”
Shebib, a 2002 graduate of Central Continuation High School in Morgan Hill, was patrolling a road south of Baghdad when a hidden bomb exploded. He suffered multiple fractures and shrapnel wounds to his upper body. He was airlifted from the scene to an Iraqi hospital and later transferred to a U.S. military hospital in Germany. He arrived in Washington, D.C. at the end of December.
Several of Shebib’s friends continue to show support on his MySpace page, posting comments urging him to “get well.” Sixth-grade Charter School teacher Cristin Reichmuth and her 28 students have written letters to David.
Charlene said the outpouring of love and support has been “wonderful.”
“It’s just been so fantastic that everybody’s helping and concerned,” she said. “I just want to thank everybody. It’s really been good because Morgan Hill isn’t that big of a town … everybody’s praying for him and thinking of him, and that’s the most wonderful thing.”
How to help
– Letters of support may be sent to David Shebib, c/o Shebib Family, Mologne House, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, 6900 Georgia Ave., NW, Bldg 20, Washington, DC
20307-5001
How to Donate
– Checks may be made out to
the David Shebib Benefit Fund
and deposited at any Wells Fargo Bank branch.
