NEED TO KNOW
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Jordan Stannard lost his left foot after rescuing his 2-year-old daughter, Sadie, from an out-of-control car in Los Angeles
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The 38-year-old father of two says he has no regrets after potentially saving Sadie’s life
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A GoFundMe page has been set up to help support Stannard and his family amid his ongoing recovery
A Los Angeles father is recovering after losing his foot while saving his toddler from being struck by an out-of-control car.
Jordan Stannard was putting his 2-year-old daughter, Sadie, into his car after visiting a grocery store in Venice with his family, when he saw a vehicle speeding towards him, the Los Angeles Times and ABC7 Los Angeles reported.
The incident occurred on Venice Boulevard and Abbot Kinney Boulevard, ABC7 stated, noting that Sadie was not harmed in the crash.
The GMC truck had slammed into a Mercedes SUV waiting for a parking spot before it came hurtling towards the pair, according to the Los Angeles Times. Stannard quickly shoved his daughter in the car as the truck collided with him, per the outlets.
“I literally just threw her into the car,” the 38-year-old father of two told ABC7. “I remember the truck fully hitting my body and hitting me and twisting me around.”
Jordan Stannard is pictured in the hospital
Credit: GoFundMe
Stannard’s left foot was severely injured in the crash. “It looked like I had stepped on a grenade or a bomb, and it looked like my foot was pretty much blown off,” he said, per ABC7.
Stannard had to have his left foot and ankle amputated, the Los Angeles Times reported.
Stannard has been receiving care at UCLA Medical Center, according to a GoFundMe set up to support him and his family.
“His injuries are severe. The most significant trauma was to his left foot, which doctors were unable to fully save,” a description on the page said. “His right foot was also injured, though less extensively. While he sustained injuries to other parts of his body, the damage to his left foot has been the most devastating.”
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Stannard, who was also with his wife and newborn daughter at the time of the crash, said he is just “thankful” that Sadie was unharmed.
“As I get further away from the accident, I’m just more and more thankful for that, because I can’t even begin to think of what could have happened to her,” he told ABC7, holding back tears.
The GoFundMe page added, “We know Jordan’s strength and determination will carry him through, but the challenges facing him and his family are immense. Jordan and Julie, along with Sadie and six-week-old Shae, will need to relocate temporarily to a single-story home during his recovery.”
“Their current three-story condominium is simply not suitable for his medical needs. We are actively searching for housing options and narrowing down several possibilities, but this is a daunting process during an already overwhelming time,” the description continued.
The fundraiser had raised over $110,000 as of Wednesday, July 1.
Stannard, who is an athlete, is determined not to let his injury slow him down, and his goal is now to run the L.A. marathon next year amid his ongoing recovery, per the Los Angeles Times.
“I have a responsibility to my daughters to be the best dad that I can be,” he told the newspaper. “I never want them to say ‘Dad got in an accident and he was never the same. Dad got hurt and he’s been angry ever since.’ There’s no room for feeling bad for myself or being angry.”
Read the original article on People