SAN DIEGO (CBS 8) - It was a joyous day for us here at CBS News 8, as our sports director Kyle Kraska paid us a visit.
It's incredibly hard for us to comprehend that just 15 days ago, Kraska was shot multiple times outside his house. He awakened from a medically induced coma on Valentine's Day, and on Wednesday he miraculously returned home to his KFMB family.
It was an emotional day for all of us as he walked in to a huge round of applause. Doctors rarely use the word "miracle" when describing patients, but Kraska's trauma surgeon tells him he is a true miracle for surviving such significant trauma.
His wounds aren't visible to us, except for a bandaged left hand -- one of the places he was shot -- but his whole body is still fighting to heal. He's is slowly gaining strength, enough to pay us a visit here Wednesday to let us all know he's going to be alright.
After a few long, but gentle hugs in the parking lot with our news director Dean Elwood and photojournalists, Kraska walked toward the station he has called his second home for the past 16 years.
"I'm a little nervous right now. I've been waiting to see everyone for so long. I never knew this day would happen," he said.
Not only did it happen, but it came just 15 short days after Kraska was shot six times.
Words can really not describe the relief, the joy and the happiness all of us are feeling, knowing that we nearly lost someone special to us all.
Kraska first sat down for a more intimate talk Wednesday with those of us in the KFMB newsroom.
"I can't tell you how it helps healing, to know you've got a family like this. I've got my family on the East Coast, got my TV family here man," Kraska said. "You guys just lifted me up on your shoulders when I needed you. I can't thank you enough for that, that's why I'm here in front of you right now, that's why I'm alive. That's why I'm going to get back on the air and be better than ever."
Kraska then headed into one of our studios to say hello to everyone at the station, and to let us know he's going to be okay.
"There's a lot of holes in here, and stitches and black and blues, things need to heal. The good news is they will heal. I promise you that I will back on the air, better than I was before, stronger, faster, and more mentally alert," he said.
Kraska also sent a special thanks to all of our viewers and fans for lifting him up as he recovers.
"Every day, I go to cbs8.com with the 'Messages for Kyle,' and I read them every morning, and I cry when I read them. But the strength it gives me to know the way the community came together for me, and to pray… I'm here, I'm alive, and in many ways it's because of beautiful community of San Diego that I'm so proud to call home," Kraska said.
Leave a well-wish message for Kyle: CLICK HERE »
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Some of the footage used in this video story was shot using a GoPro camera.