Robbie’s road to recovery

Business administration and music major Robbie Berriz was shot during an attempted robbery Sept. 26 on Goshen St., causing him to lose full movement of his left arm. This event raised safety concerns around the campus community and caused Berriz and his parents to question how long the first year student will continue studying at VCU.

Since the assault, Berriz often unconsciously touches the scar from his gunshot wound.

Berriz returned to class just two weeks after he was shot. He is currently catching up in all of his classes.”I kind of waddle my way to class, (my mom) drives me and waits for me to get out of class,” Berriz said.

“(University President Eugene P. Trani) is a scumbag. He was in the hospital five times since I was there and never came by, not once … If I was president of a campus and one of my kids got shot, the possibility of bad publicity alone would motivate me to get there,” Berriz said.

Berriz and his mother attribute his recovery to God. More than 600 people from all over the country joined his prayer chain on Facebook. Berriz and his mother held Bible study at his house on multiple occasions.

“I think losing half my blood and still making it to the hospital is kind of a miracle,” Berriz said.

“It’s by the grace of God that he’s alive. It’s not just luck, it’s incredible,” said Berriz’ mother, Raisa.

“Security on campus is one thing that has really been going through my mind. Something has to be done. There needs to be a much higher cop-to-student ratio,” Berriz said.

Berriz is a music major-he plays flamenco guitar-so the use of his left arm is crucial.

“(My guitar) is there in my room taunting me and I can’t do anything with it. I tried picking it up the other day and almost dropped it,” Berriz said.

“I can’t straighten my arm: It hurts so bad to straighten it,” Berriz said. “I can move my wrist now, which means the nerve is not severed. I couldn’t do that before. It’s not very fluid, it’s kind of jerky. It’s irritating.”

Berriz’s injury has not only caused him pain, it has made even simple tasks difficult as well. His mom helps him on a daily basis, from things like physical therapy to buttoning
his pants.

“I take a little longer to get ready. Everything kind of takes a little longer than it used to,” Berriz said.

“I actually don’t know if I’ll be returning here next semester. My mom really doesn’t want me to come back here. She’s on the verge of a nervous break down and so is my father,” Berriz said. “They said go (to school) anywhere you want, private school, anywhere in the country or the world, just somewhere else.”