By MICHAEL RODRIGUEZ
Managing Editor
editor@sbnewspaper.com
Junior Aguilar
For the first time since he nearly lost his life in Iraq, Cyndi Gonzalez of San Benito saw her son Tuesday night when he was transferred to the Brooks Army Medical Center in San Antonio.
It was on Friday, July 22 when 20-year-old Eluterio “Junior” Aguilar, a 2009 graduate of San Benito High School, fell from 30 feet high while stationed in Iraq. In critical but stable condition, Gonzalez said her son, an Air Force Airman, is currently in an induced coma after suffering a traumatic brain injury that left in its wake facial and skull fractures as well as hemorrhaging.
Additionally, Gonzalez said Junior underwent surgery in Germany, where a blood clot was removed as well as excess fluids. “The doctors wanted to make sure the swelling in his brain doesn’t worsen,” Gonzalez said.
Still, Junior’s mom remained optimistic and expects her son to make a full recovery. “I believe he had his guardian angel with him holding him on his way down,” she said. “I know he’s going to come out of it. I know he is. It’s just a bump on the head.”
In the meantime, Gonzalez expressed gratitude with the support she said the family has received from the community. “We couldn’t be more grateful for the community, who are all praying together,” she said.
One such person is Joel Lopez, a coach at San Benito High School who knew Junior when he was a team captain for the Greyhound varsity football team in 2009. “He was one of our better players, and he was a kid that was undersized but played with a big heart,” Lopez said of Junior. “He was a good leader for our team and he was just one of those kids that was always there and always working and achieved so much more than what anybody probably would have thought.”
“I’m just in shock right now,” Lopez continued. “I can still see his face, laughing in the locker room and being with him and some of the kids and the coaches. He’s a good-hearted kid… a great kid. It’s unfortunate what happened and I hope his wife and mom are doing well. My heart goes out to them, and me and my family will be praying for them.”
Making the trip to San Antonio with Junior’s mother was his wife, Miriam Aguilar. Junior and Miriam have a 2-year-old daughter together – her name is Kaitlyn Renee Aguilar.
To see this story in print, pick up a copy of the July 27 edition of the San Benito News. Or view our E-Edition by clicking here.
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