Excerpts from Fox32Chicago.com:

Timothy Eiland, a Chicago firefighter, was off-duty when he was shot in the face last month. He was leaving a birthday party on Sept. 11 when someone drove by shooting in the 300 block of East Kensington in West Pullman. His 15-year-old niece was also shot. She’s home recovering.

Eiland is eating through a feeding tube and can’t walk on his own. However, he was able to speak earlier this week.

A fundraiser was hosted by the Black Fire Brigade Friday evening for the 32-year-old firefighter. The husband and father of five is the sole provider for his family.

He has a long road to recovery, and his parents started a Go Fund Me to help with medical expenses.