Giants fan Bryan Stow's family speaks out

LOS ANGELES

His family gave an emotional interview to Eyewitness News Wednesday night.

Stow's condition is showing signs of improvement at L.A. County USC Medical Center.

Stow's doctors say they have reduced the sedation medication that has kept him in a medically induced coma. He remained in critical condition Wednesday night with damage to his frontal lobes. His family hopes and prays for progress.

"We got into the hospital this morning around 10 and got a great report from his neurologist: A 12-hour period, no brain seizures," said Ann.

It's a glimmer of hope in a tragedy that has cast a dark cloud over the Stow family.

Thursday marks one month since that fateful day, when 42-year-old paramedic Bryan Stow, a father of two, was severely beaten to by two thugs in the Dodger Stadium parking lot on opening day.

"I think they're cowards the way they did that. I would like to see them come forward, give themselves up, but if that's not the case I'll let the police do their job and then bring them to justice," said Ann.

The Stow family tries not to become consumed with anger and instead stay strong for Bryan. His parents, Ann and David, and his sisters, Erin and Bonnie, have been by his side every day. The family rule is no crying in Bryan's room.

"We don't break down with Bryan up in the room at all. We feed off of each other, we have strength together," said David Stow.

"The doctors say he probably can't hear what you're saying, it doesn't matter, we still talk to him, play music every time, and just hope that part of him hears us," said Erin Collins.

The family has moved their lives from Santa Cruz to a hotel in downtown Los Angeles. But most of their time is spent at the hospital.

Every day they receive an outpouring of support from the public: thousands of cards, letters and emails from complete strangers

"It's as if either the people are thinking of him as a son, or as a brother," said David.

What is it about this family that the public is drawn to?

"I think the public is drawn to us because we're a real family, they've seen emotion," said sister Bonnie Stow.

"And Bryan is just a regular guy, a hard-working guy who helps people and I think really that's what drew a lot of people in, besides how it happened and where it happened," said Erin.

"The people of L.A. have been very, very good," said David. "Two people out of a crowd is what caused this, the rest of the Dodger fans, they like their team. We accept that, that's fine, but they've been very good to us."

Life for the Stow family has changed forever -- that much they know -- and the uncertainly is what the future holds for Bryan.

"His neurosurgeon has been very honest with us. That with the type of damage he has in both frontal lobes, Bryan will never be our Bryan again," said Ann

The family says they're satisfied with security changes at Dodger Stadium. They just want to make sure that what happened to Stow never happens to anyone else at any other sporting event.

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