CLEARLAKE – The victim of a shooting that occurred in Clearlake last year is facing difficulties in accomplishing every day tasks. Tim McCarty, 39, was reportedly shot eight times, which has left him paralyzed from the chest down.
The incident that left McCarty paralyzed occurred on March 31, 2008 on 40th Avenue. Clearlake resident Noah Parker was arrested in relation to the incident.
“Tim was a tow truck driver for Fischer”s for three years. Anybody who had the chance to meet him on the job I”m sure would remember him. He is a very memorable person and he was always ready to lend helping hand,” McCarty”s wife Cliesta McCarty said. “Unfortunately, his kindness led to him being paralyzed for life.”
According to McCarty, her husband was providing good-Samaritan assistance when he was placed in a situation that ultimately led to his paralysis.
“On March 31 a guy we didn”t even know very well came by and asked my husband for help while we were barbecuing in the front yard. So, he just left with him and said he”d be back in five minutes,” she said. “The next thing I knew somebody came knocking at my door and said my husband had just been shot and was being flown out by helicopter.”
McCarty said she and her family have had to make many adjustments to their lifestyles and their residence to care for her husband. Prior to his release from the hospital, she and other family members received training in order to learn how to tend to his daily needs.
“I had to go through special training in order to be able to move him, dress him and perform other daily activities that help keep him from deteriorating. The only thing we don”t have to do is feed him,” McCarty said.
“My nephew helps take care of him while I”m at work and we are pulling together as a family the best we can, but our resources have been exhausted. Right now what we really need is to be able to bath him indoors.”
McCarty said she used her life savings to make their home handicap accessible. “We installed ramps and laminated flooring to deal with the issue of the wheelchair. We have a living room as bedroom because the bedrooms are not suitable to his needs,” she said.
“The one thing we are having a lot of trouble with is making the bathroom accessible for him. It”s just too small and he can”t get in there. We have set up a tent shower outside, but now that the weather is colder, it is making it really difficult to keep him from getting sick.”
McCarty is seeking the assistance of the community to help meet the needs of her husband. Anyone who is willing to offer assistance may contact Cliesta McCarty at 350-7201.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
