FedEx Shooting Survivor Still Needs Help

A Canton man who was seriously wounded during a mass shooting at a FedEx sorting facility in Kennesaw last year is still struggling with medical challenges and financial difficulties, but his wife hopes to have him home for Christmas.

Christopher Sparkman was working as a security guard at the FedEx plant facility in Kennesaw on April 29, 2014, when 19-year-old co-worker Geddy Kramer opened fire inside the facility with a shotgun. Kramer wounded six people before turning the gun on himself. Sparkman was the most seriously injured of the victims, taking a point-blank shotgun blast to the intestines.

Sparkman underwent a 49th surgery on his intestines on Nov. 3, wife Jamie Lynn reported on the Sparkman Strong blog. Doctors are hopeful that this surgery will be the last one Chris needs, Jamie Lynn said.

Since the surgery, he has developed a bowel leak and has been placed in isolation inside the hospital. He hasn’t been able to eat or drink anything since last week, as doctors say he has an 85 percent chance of recovery if the intestines are left alone to stop the leak on their own.

Jamie Lynn has been a constant at Chris’ side, writing on Nov. 30 that “Although we wished he could have been home by now, we make it work - because that’s what we do.” Jamie Lynn wrote that she hopes Chris will be well enough to go home in time for Christmas.

The Kennesaw Police Department set up a GoFundMe page in the wake of the shooting to help the Sparkmans with medical bills and other life necessities. So far, it’s raised nearly $40,000 of the $250,000 sought. You can donate to the fundraiser by using the widget below.