Hope for a Miracle

Update as at 13 October 2021 - 

-

The fact that Samoan Corrections officer Toamalama Scanlan is even breathing today is a miracle in itself and now his wife and family are praying for another miracle .... full recovery.

On the 3rd of September the father of 6, along with fellow officer Juanita Davila - a mother and grandmother - who both worked at Fresno County Jail, California, were shot in the head and neck as they tried to calm a visiting ex convict.  Toamalama was shot in the head and Juanita was shot in the neck.  Police report they were both shot by 37-year-old Thong Vang, a convicted child rapist with a history of violence who said he was visiting someone at the jail before opening fire.

This all happened just 6 days before Toamalamas eldest son Robert (pictured above) was due to come home from his mission in Samoa where he'd been stationed for the last 2 years.

Prison officers Toamalama Scanlan and Juanita Davila.

Since then both officers have undergone surgery and are still in critical condition but families and friends remain hopeful that they will pull through.  

The shot Toamalama sustained to the head would normally have been fatal and it is a miracle he has survived the initial shooting but every day he has made small improvements and a facebook page has been set up dedicated firstly to the miracle of his survival and also to the miracles in his life and all those that know him.   

His wife Tepatasi reports that over the last week and a half he is responding to stimuli, can move his fingers and last Thursday opened his eyes, squeezed her hand and gave her a thumbs up!  He continues to improve and fight daily and they hope to have the respiratory machine removed soon so that he can breathe on his own.

Toamalama with his wife Tepatasi and daughter Melania

Toamalama is the eldest of Lemigao Tupua and the late Robert Leoso Scanlans 5 children.  Born in Mountain View California to a father who was in the military, he later moved with his familty to American Samoa after his father retired from the Air force.  They lived with the Scanlan family in Fagatogo but later relocated and settled in Leone with his Hunkin Leoso roots where he attended Leone Midkiff Elementary and Marist High School.

 

A young Toamalama 

When he was 13 yrs old his father died and so he helped his mother with the raising of his 4 younger siblings.  At the age of 16 he moved to the US where he received a football scholarship to play for Iowa Wesleyan Collegian in Mt Pleasant, Iowa.  

He met his wife Tepatasi during Christmas Break at a Samoan dance in San Francisco in 1993 and a couple of years later transferred to Fresno State where he later graduated with a BS in Criminology.  He was an outstanding football player but unfortunately injured his knee (torn meniscus) in his Senior year at Fresno State.

Toamalama with his good friend and fellow Poly/Tongan team mate Lisala Pakola 

 He worked in probation for 7 years and then 10 years with the Sheriffs department.  Tepatasi says "He has always been a protector, strong servant leader and a peacemaker - everyone calls him a peacemaker!  Even with a busy schedule working and raising his family he still took the time to coach another High School football team.  He loves water activities and swimming with his kids as well as paddleboarding, surfing and skate boarding.  He's always been really active because it keeps him young (laughs) but loves God, his family and life!"  

Toamalama with his youngest daughter Simoe

"We've really been overwhelmed with all of the support we've received from family, our church family and Toamalama's law enforcement family" continues Tepatasi "People who worked with him 10 years ago have stopped by at the hospital, people he mentored years ago came by and one tattooed face guy who was one of his Juvenile inmates stopped by and told us a story about a time when Malama told him to do something and he wouldnt so Malama took him down - he's loved him ever since (laughs), we've even had Get Well cards from the Inmates that Malama was guarding which is amazing"

The Fresno County Public Safety Association have been a great support providing the family with accommodation, food and a place for visitors to visit.  Other organisations and local businesses have donated their food and services to help support the family through this.

Their LDS church family have been amazing providing transportation for the Scanlans kids from school and with food & support as well.

Tepatasi and Malama with their children - Robert (20), Paulene Tava'e (18), Toamalama Jr (16), Kolone Catherine (15), Melania (14) and Simoe (4)

We received the latest update from Tepatasi which read "He continues to fight and we see daily progress . His grip is getting tighter/stronger. His eyes remain open longer and we see his constant attempts to focus. His right side looks fully mobile; however left side still has very minimal movement. We see Facial expressions and nodding his head constantly -so he will have a helmet on his head today.  Please keep those prayers coming for miracles to continue- We hope to have the respiratory machine removed, which means breathing on his own and out of ICU soon. Our hearts are full with sooo much gratitude, and we feel your love and care for my husband and family with every prayer said, card, text and email sent, phone call and vmail left... Please know it is difficult to respond to you all at once but that I do read and see your loving messages. Love from Tepa and family"

If you would like to give to the family to help as they recover from the tragic shooting that took place you can donate via paypal to toatasiscanlan@yahoo.com

There is also a GoFundMe page set up for the Injured Officers here and a support page set up on Facebook where you can follow and receive up to date information on Toamalamas recovery.

Tepatasi's last request:  The family seeks continuous prayers because it is working so we ask that you continue to pray for his complete healing