Weeks after being hit at point-blank range during an early morning shooting, a Clearlake man remains in UC Davis Medical Center”s intensive care ward.
Terry Cain, 47, was shot early on the morning of Sunday, Sept. 10, allegedly by 36-year-old Wilbur Cope, who also is accused of shooting three other people that day, including Michele Cain, Terry Cain”s wife; and Sharon England.
Another woman Cope allegedly shot, Kristin Raviotta, died.
Cope allegedly went to the Cain home where he shot Terry Cain just inside the front door of the home, said Cain”s sister, Santa Rosa resident Francesca Mulas.
Michele Cain, who is Cope”s ex-wife, also was injured but later treated and released at Redbud Hospital, according to previous police reports.
Mulas said her brother is a heavy equipment operator who deals with hazardous materials; for several years, she said, he has worked in Los Angeles, staying there during the week and commuting home by plane on the weekends. She described her brother as a “hero,” an upstanding citizen and a dedicated family man who continues to care for their elderly grandfather.
“He was so happy in his life,” Mulas said of her brother before the shooting.
Cain”s story becomes all the more poignant when considering that he and Mulas have lost the rest of their siblings, a brother in 1988, a sister in 2005 and their last sister earlier this year of cancer.
Since being taken to UC Davis Medical Center, Cain has undergone an 11-hour surgery to repair a carotid artery reportedly severed by one of the gunshot blasts, Mulas reported Monday. He also suffered wounds to his right forearm, right shoulder, left clavicle and his upper chest.
Cain, with wife Michele at his side, is in critical but stable condition right now, Mulas said, but it”s anticipated that he”ll need several more surgeries.
The family is facing catastrophic medical costs; for his bed alone Mulas said her brother will owe $11,000 a day, which doesn”t cover any other medical costs, including surgery or physician care.
The Terry Cain Recovery Fund has been set up at Westamerica Bank, said Mulas. Anyone who would like to help the Cain family can make a donation at any Westamerica Bank in the county, or can mail checks to the fund at P.O. Box 2080, Clearlake, CA 95422 or to Westamerica”s Clearlake branch, 15342 Lakeshore Drive.
Mulas said well wishers also may send messages to the family at terrycainrecovery@yahoo.com.
Contact Elizabeth Larson at elarson@record-bee.com.
