(SAN DIEGO, CA) — A San Diego sports anchor who was shot outside of his home said he credits Lebanese-American trauma surgeon Dr. Fady Nasrallah with his miraculous recovery.
Kyle Kraska was shot on Feb. 10 by house painter Mike Montana over a financial disagreement over paint work on Kraska’s home. Montana is now charged with premeditated attempted murder and could face nearly 38 years to life in prison if convicted.
Kraska, an Emmy-award winning broadcaster with San Diego CBS affiliate KFMB-TV, spent over a month recovering from the shooting.
Prosecutors say the sportscaster was shot six times from several feet away, including twice in the upper body.
Kraska miraculously survived after undergoing several rounds of surgery under the leadership of Dr. Fady Nasrallah at Scripps Memorial Hospital in La Jolla, Calif.
Kraska returned to work this week and recognized Dr. Nasrallah for his “work ethic.”
“I just want you to know how much I love you, how much I loved your care, your thoughtfulness, your patience, your work ethic,” said Kraska in an on-air address to Dr. Nasrallah. “I love the fact that you stayed with me through the night, operating on me many times, and you refused to let me die.”
Dr. Nasrallah graduated from American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine in 2001, then completed a residency in General Surgery at Waterbury Hospital in Waterbury, CT from 2003 to 2008.
Kraska adds that he’s thankful for Dr. Nasrallah’s dedication to his recovery.
“I’ll never be able to repay you and I’ll never be able to thank you enough times,” he said. “But I want you to know that you’re right here in my heart.”
WATCH Kraska’s thank you to Dr. Nasrallah:
CBS News 8 – San Diego, CA News Station – KFMB Channel 8