GoFundMe
A screenshot from the GoFundMe page
Update, October 26, 10:30 a.m.:
Just 16 hours after going live, a GoFundMe for a CVPA student hospitalized following Monday's school shooting has raised more than $45,000 of its original $50,000 goal—and has bumped the ask to $80,000.
The GoFundMe will benefit CVPA student Brian, and is organized by his godmother, Stephanie Malia Krauss. During the tragic school shooting that left three dead including the shooter, Brian was shot in both hands and had a bullet lodged in his jaw, but was able to escape by jumping out of a second-story window and hopping a fence. The bullet that struck his jaw was just centimeters from a major artery, Krauss shared with St. Louis Magazine by phone on Wednesday morning. He was treated at St. Louis Children's Hospital and discharged Tuesday evening.
Brian enrolled in the school, an arts magnet, because he has a talent for drawing. On Wednesday morning, Krauss shared the following update via the GoFundMe page:
We are overwhelmed by the love and support Brian and our family have received so far! Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts.
By an act of God and the superb medical team at St Louis Children's Hospital, Brian was well enough to be discharged last night to continue to heal from home.
Brian transferred to Central VPA earlier this fall to pursue art. He is an incredible artist with an eye for detail. Part of his recovery will be therapy and exercises for his hands and arms to ensure he can continue to follow his passion. When he transferred to Central, we were all excited. His mom, brother, and sister graduated from that high school and my husband and my first home was two blocks away. Central is a safe school in a part of town that hundreds of young children and families call home. These school shootings can happen anywhere.
In addition to immediate medical expenses, your donations will help support any occupational and therapy services and resources Brian will need in the weeks and months ahead. Thank you for helping our brilliant and brave artist!
Original story:
A GoFundMe created Tuesday night asks for $50,000 to help pay the medical bills of a student who was injured during Monday's school shooting at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School in South St. Louis.
On the GoFundMe page, author Stephanie Malia Krauss writes that her godson, who she identifies only by his first name, Brian, was shot during the event that left three people including the gunman dead. She writes that Brian was shot in both hands, had a bullet lodged in his jaw, and was able to escape by jumping through a second-story window. She writes that he was treated at St. Louis Children's Hospital and discharged on Tuesday.
Within two hours of the fundraiser going live, Krauss had raised $8,657 through 172 donations. St. Louis Magazine has reached out to Krauss for comment but did not hear back as of publish time. The GoFundMe lists Vondina Washington, Brian's mother, as the beneficiary of the funds. A separate public post on Facebook from Washington states that her son attended CVPA for visual art and showed a talent for drawing.
The GoFundMe page states:
On October 24, our godson Brian was in health class at Central Visual Performing Arts (VPA) high school in St. Louis, Missouri, when his school went on lockdown. Minutes later, a shooter entered his classroom, killing his teacher and wounding Brian and several classmates.
Brian was shot through his hands and a bullet lodged in his jaw, missing a major artery by centimeters. After being shot, Brian and several classmates miraculously escaped through a second-story window, jumping from the building and over a fence to get to safety. Brian was treated at St. Louis Children's Hospital by an incredible medical team and was discharged this evening to begin his longer-term recovery and healing at home.
With medical bills looming and longer-term recovery needs still to be determined, Brian and his family need your help. We want to see Brian fully recovered, able to use his hands to create beautiful artwork, bake his signature cheesecakes, and make good use of his gaming chair. We want to see a full physical and emotional recovery from the unfathomable trauma he experienced.
Find the GoFundMe page here.
