One father found himself in a living nightmare earlier this week when he was involved in a road traffic incident. An unidentified person in the other vehicle got out and opened fire, his son, shooting one-year-old Brandon Jayden Ross. Ross and his father ran into the nearest gas station, where off-duty nurse Joanna Lopez happened to be buying a soda. According to ABC13, that simple twist of fate could've saved the toddler's life.

Despite usually traveling with a tank full of gas, Lopez found herself on empty and decided to pull into a station and pick a soda up while she was at it. When she got inside, she caught sight of a man screaming for the assistance of a nurse or doctor. Lopez helped the injured toddler while paramedics were called to the station off the Southwest Freeway in Houston. As the anxious father waited for the ambulance, Lopez reassured him while checking Brandon's breathing. She quickly identified the bullet in his back. Believing it was close to his spine, she advised Brandon's dad not to pat him in case it caused more damage. Taling to ABC, Lopez said the child's breathing was labored. This was later confirmed by the hospital who told his parents that his lung had been punctured.

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The bullet in his back was one of two that were fired. The other grazed him but didn't penetrate his skin. If it had, it could've been an entirely different story. As of the time of writing, the assailant remains at large and unidentified. It's not immediately clear what sparked the violent outburst, but police are theorizing it could be something as simple as being cut off or accidentally bumped.

Brandon remained conscious after he was hit with the bullet, and was later treated at Texas Children's Hospital, where he remains. Thanks to the efforts of everyone involved, he's stable with his parents at his side. Lopez says she wants to visit the Ross family at the hospital soon and give him a gift to see his face light up. GoFundMe pages have been created to help over Brandon's medical expenses and a birthday party to put a smile on his face.

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