Teary eyed trying to hold in his emotion, 36-year-old Jesus Manuel Perea-Ortiz says it's a miracle he's alive.
"A lot of times we take our world for granted, we take our life for granted and I am going to try and carry that forward from now on. and remember to appreciate life," the Spanish-speaking man said through a translator.
Jupiter Police confirm on November 3, Ortiz and a friend were in the parking lot of a Home Depot, waiting for the doors to open.
That's when a gray car pulled up and two men jumped out. Police say the men demanded money.
Ortiz dropped his wallet. When he picked it up, one of the men shot him.
Ortiz said the bullet went through one of his kidneys, his stomach and a lung. "Physically I'm in a lot of pain. Mentally I am still kind of in shock that this could happen to someone in one moment to the other."
Doctors told Ortiz he needs several months to heal -- so he won't be able to work. Medical bills will be coming in and he's not sure how he'll be able to support his wife and two children.
Before the shooting, the construction worker had hope for the future. "I was in the process of starting my own small business and was filing paperwork and getting myself squared away."
Despite what happened, Ortiz is grateful to those who have offered to help. "My wife and I would like to say that we are very grateful for the support that we have received."
El Sol, a resource center in Jupiter, set up this fund page to help the family.