Redding man Travis Barber has undergone a long but almost miraculous recovery process from gunshot wounds.
Barber was shot four times during an altercation with suspected shooter Silas Matthew Hesselberg in Lakehead back in 2021.
Wednesday morning, Barber got to meet the Mercy Medical Center trauma team that helped save his life and was presented with a certificate for his resilient recovery.
The certificate read, “Travis Barber, who endured adversity, overcame it, and persevered his resiliency is an inspiration to us all.”
Barber told KRCR’s Tyler Van Dyke that the recovery process is still ongoing. “I don't know if I'll ever be the same before that day, but I know I have improved my heart a great amount and that includes for my wife and my two daughters,” Barber said.
It also hasn't been an easy process.
"Having to wear a helmet for seven months and making sure that I was extra cautious of what I was doing while I was wearing the helmet and then still having to be extra cautious with the stuff that I do in my day-to-day life now post-operation."
Trauma Medical Director Doug Hatter said patients like Travis are what bring purpose to their jobs, “For me to have someone like Travis come back, this is why we do it, this is why we do all that preparation, this is why we have all the people working so hard, helping take care of trauma patients so that we have can have successes like this,” Hatter said.
Travis's stepdaughter was also a huge support for him in the process.
"She gave me a great deal of care and support once we got back home from the acute rehab I can't thank this kid enough," Barber said.
Also, just over 24 hours before, the Barbers welcomed baby Genevieve into their family.
"It is the most special thing I have ever experienced in my entire life,” Barber said.
Daisha Barber, Travis’s wife explained how it is the symbol of a new beginning.
"The new beginning and it's a very remarkable story to know that life is so fragile and in a split second it can all change and then here it is changing again for the positive."
The shooter Silas Matthew Hesselberg was sentenced to more than 20 years in prison and he's expected back in court on June 21.