Thirty years ago, an NYPD suffered career-ending injuries that changed his life forever, but instead of dwelling on his injuries, he has become a messenger of peace and forgiveness.
NYPD Detective Steven McDonald was paralyzed from the neck down after being shot three times in Central Park by suspected bike thief, 15-year-old Shavod Jones, on July 12, 1986, according to CBS New York.
"I've experienced many coincidences and it reinforces my faith that I’m not here by accident, that there's a purpose and a plan for my life," McDonald told the news station recently. "I'm very confident that God has been involved in this story, from the beginning until now."
McDonald has stayed strong with his wife, Patti Ann, standing by his side the whole way.
" believe in the power of love, and love is what has kept us together as a family and me functioning as a husband, father, son, brother," he said.
McDonald, who breathes with the help of a ventilator has long outlived the expectations of doctors and believes that its all due to the love and support he's received by others.
"There was two ways to move forward now and that was to love and forgive the boy who shot me, or as other people have done -- condemn him, criticize him in the harshest terms for what he did to me and my family and friends, but God was there in our lives, guiding us, inspiring us," he said.
McDonald's son, Conor, followed in his father's footsteps and is now the fourth generation of the family to serve the NYPD.
"They had to go through so much and they’re remarkable human beings. I am lucky that my dad survived," McDonald said. "My mom was only three months pregnant with me so I’m lucky that even knew who my father was."
