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Rahodeb

Rahodeb

Los Angeles, CA
March 2006

DEC 26, 2007 03:16 PM



Happy day-after-xmas. Here's a heartwarming story about some asshole kids who knocked over an occupied port-a-potty a year and a half ago, paralyzing the guy inside from the chest down. More to the point, here's a story about the guy who was inside the port-a-potty, and how he's forgiven the little fuckers who fucked up his whole life.

His name is Pedro Toala, and I came across his story recently when I saw an article about how a number of strangers had renovated his house pro-bono, to make it handicapped-accessible. His horrific story, his decision to forgive the little fuckers, and his determination to move on with his life inspired Susan Simmons and Cher Przelomski of a special events firm called The Planning Factory to organize a renovation project.

Seventy contractors and more than 60 volunteers agreed, signing on to "The Pedro Project" with such enthusiasm that the project doubled in size, according to Bill Hart, senior projects manager for Wohlsen Construction. Saturday afternoon, Toala and his wife, Yira Graciano, and their children, 13-year-old Gale and 3-year-old Gregory, returned home to an estimated $175,000 to $200,000 in home improvements.



Improvements included new furniture in every single room, a new master suite with French doors that led to a newly constructed patio, and of course, a wheelchair lift that will allow him to visit parts of the house he's been unable to reach since he was injured.

That's really freakin' cool, hugely generous, charitable and awesome, but it doesn't change the fact that some stupid, misguided, unattended little fuckwads caused him permanent physical damage, and all for a cheap laugh.

Pedro Toala, soaked with human waste and blue-ish chemicals, could hear the kids laughing outside the portable toilet they had just tipped over.

Toala was inside, face down in the liquid that had spilled from the toilet’s holding tank.

He tried to turn over, but could not move his legs. He couldn’t even feel his legs.

He worked to push himself out of the filth, mustering just enough strength to keep his mouth above it. Something had splashed his face when the building tipped and he tried not to swallow.

Unable to free himself and unable to move, he prayed.

“God, help me get out of here.

“God, help me forgive the kids that did this to me.”

They were still out there, still laughing.



Some of the paramedics wouldn't even touch him when they arrived later, because the stench was so bad.

"Some of them wouldn't touch me because of the smell," Toala said. "Finally one of them said, 'I'll get him up. I'll get him on the stretcher.' "



Meanwhile, the little bastards who did this to him got away.

Wilmington police have no leads on who tipped the privy over, Master Sgt. Steven T. Elliott said.

"Those kids probably didn't know they were doing something wrong," Toala said. "Maybe they're going to live with that in their heart and they'll be haunted all their life.

"Maybe they'll come forward one day. Maybe they'll talk to me. They won't be free until they do. ...

"But I have no grudge toward these kids or whoever did it," Toala said. "I forgive them."



He forgives them, which is hugely generous of him, and something I really don't think I'd be able to do.

Vivec

Vivec

I'm lost
April 2007

DEC 26, 2007 04:05 PM

That's a cool guy right there. I know I'd be permanently pissed off.

flabajaba2213

flabajaba2213

Plymouth, MA
July 2006

DEC 26, 2007 04:14 PM

Vivec said:
That's a cool guy right there. I know I'd be permanently pissed off.



True story. Still, the number of volunteers makes me think that perhaps not all people are shit. Just the majority. Including the fuckwads who did this to him. I hope they are strapped naked to metal chairs that are then slowly heated up until their skin burns off.

But that is just me.

Kristie

Kristie

Chicago, IL
December 2004

DEC 26, 2007 04:15 PM

He forgives them, which is hugely generous of him, and something I really don't think I'd be able to do.


What's the alternative, really? A life full of bitterness and anger?

I'm not sure what I would do or how I'd react in his place.

JDPatriot

JDPatriot

Fort Lauderdale, FL
January 2004

DEC 26, 2007 04:23 PM

I'd probably "Forgive" them...

At least until I found out who they are, then I'd be a felon.

QBug

QBug

Edmonton, AB
June 2006

DEC 26, 2007 04:31 PM

Kids see that kind of stuff on Jackass and they think it'll be funny to do it themselves. I highly doubt they'd anticipate seriously injuring the guy. It's still a shitty thing to do (no pun), but kids follow examples on TV.

That said, I would never forgive those kids. Seriously.

Vermin

Vermin

United Kingdom
July 2007

DEC 26, 2007 04:48 PM

Stronger man than me.

If I was him I'd spend the next few years turning my wheelchair into a super-armoured-little-bastard-fuckhead-killing-machine-wheelchair and track the little shits down.

flabajaba2213

flabajaba2213

Plymouth, MA
July 2006

DEC 26, 2007 04:53 PM

Vermin said:


If I was him I'd spend the next few years turning my wheelchair into a super-armoured-little-bastard-fuckhead-killing-machine-wheelchair and track the little shits down.



That last statement made me lol, and I now love you. =P

chlo_ee_blo_ee

chlo_ee_blo_ee

I'm lost
December 2007

DEC 26, 2007 05:02 PM

Such acceptance; forgiveness is such an enduring virtue.

Gayballs

Gayballs

Seattle, WA
July 2005

DEC 26, 2007 05:15 PM

Wow. fucked up story. I wish I had more to add than that. I'm glad people are coming through for him.

ardour

ardour

Canada
March 2006

DEC 26, 2007 05:35 PM

KikiBH said:

He forgives them, which is hugely generous of him, and something I really don't think I'd be able to do.


What's the alternative, really? A life full of bitterness and anger?



Bingo.

I don't even think the guy should forgive these kids, but what are his other choices?

I remember reading an article a long time ago about various people who had forgiven those who had murdered a family member. The most exteme cases writing letters to them in prison, or assuring they get the mental health care they needed. Maybe they weren't right in the head or whatever, but who am I to say how they should be. Certainly it is a lot more productive than being angry and having no positive output for that anger.

defaultx

defaultx

I'm lost
February 2006

DEC 26, 2007 06:14 PM

jackass 2 caused this.

ResetYourEyes

ResetYourEyes

Regina, SK
February 2007

DEC 26, 2007 06:24 PM

You know, I bet those kids are going to read this story and the guilt that will (hopefully) overcome them will be the most severe of punishments.

semiretiredpunk

semiretiredpunk

USA
March 2007

DEC 26, 2007 06:41 PM

Really, I'd say the same as what he did in the last quotes about them coming foward. Just to lull them into a false sense of security before I feed them to the pigs like that guy in Hannibal tried to. skull oink oink oink

DownNeck

DownNeck

Jersey City, NJ
March 2006

DEC 26, 2007 07:16 PM

semiretiredpunk said:
Really, I'd say the same as what he did in the last quotes about them coming foward. Just to lull them into a false sense of security before I feed them to the pigs like that guy in Hannibal tried to. skull oink oink oink



win.

Renshai

Renshai

Minneapolis, MN
February 2006

DEC 26, 2007 07:20 PM

I'd forgive them...only after I sprayed burrito fueled diarrehia in thier mouths and put it on YouTube. mad

DhD_No_Pants

DhD_No_Pants

Katy, TX
May 2006

DEC 26, 2007 07:28 PM

defaultx said:
jackass 2 caused this.



Yep, we all know tipping over porta potties was never even thought of before jackass 2 came around. whatever

That story was just fucked up. I'm glad people are coming together to help him out.

ckdexterhaven

ckdexterhaven

USA
December 2005

DEC 26, 2007 07:28 PM

defaultx said:
jackass 2 caused this.


I blame Reno 911! Miami.

ClovenBunny

ClovenBunny

I'm lost
October 2007

DEC 26, 2007 08:08 PM

Ewwww....
I feel sick.... puke

avidity

avidity

I'm lost
June 2006

DEC 26, 2007 08:15 PM

let them soak in their own waste for a couple days, then maybe, just maybe i'd forgive them. however, why spend the rest of his life angry? it takes a really big person to forgive them.

jrmccabe

jrmccabe

Bremerton, WA
June 2007

DEC 26, 2007 08:22 PM

He's a better man than I am ... I'd love to be able to track their asses down and kill each and every one of them myself = "seriously wanted felon"; oh well.

I can't seriously imagine being THAT paralyzed. Those kids would pray to take that two minutes of laughter in their lives back ... even if it was the last thing I'd do.

shapeshifter23

shapeshifter23

San Francisco, CA
September 2005

DEC 26, 2007 08:51 PM

Man, I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I'd pulled such a stupid-ass prank as that. I did some dumb things when I was a kid but nothing this thoughtless...

JDPatriot

JDPatriot

Fort Lauderdale, FL
January 2004

DEC 27, 2007 12:50 AM

Renshai said:
I'd forgive them...only after I sprayed burrito fueled diarrehia in thier mouths and put it on YouTube. mad



I like how you think.

SpeedGlacier

SpeedGlacier

Lafayette Hill, PA
October 2007

DEC 27, 2007 01:07 AM

When I was a wee lad I was capable of such dick-headery as exploring abandoned buildings and stealing old pornography from the post office's trash bins. Nowadays, atleast in Philly, we have kids dropping baby carriages filled with bricks off of over-passes. I blame those damned vid-yo games and marijuana cigarrettes.

zombiejunk

zombiejunk

Australia
June 2007

DEC 27, 2007 03:03 AM

Not to go to a place that's horribly gross, but despite being a genuine and sad story, can you ever imagine trying to take a dump after this? Talk about a nervous pooper. I wouldn't be able to go again without someone acting as look out.

Though the stupid fuckhead kids have robbed him of almost any independence for the rest of his life, I guess.

I wish the kids would come forward, just so the poor guy would have someone to sue for the many years of wages he'll now lose because of this.

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