Shooting victim Joe Kaluza gets warm homecoming from family, friends

By KATIE SEMINARA

The robbery victim came home to Youngstown after a long hospital stay, amid much support.

YOUNGSTOWN — “Daddy’s home.”

Two simple words summed up the feeling of Joe Kaluza’s daughter, Tiffany, 12, when she saw the hospital van pull up to the Kaluzas’ driveway.

When the van doors opened, Tiffany’s face lit up and she began pulling her mom’s arm — not wanting to wait a minute longer to see her dad.

Joe, the KFC manager who is paralyzed from the neck down after being shot during a robbery in March, has been in Cleveland Metro Hospital’s rehab unit since June. He arrived at his home on the 1300 block of Ivanhoe Avenue, Youngstown, on Wednesday.

“Today is a happy day — no tears,” said Joe’s wife, Lisa, trying to collect her composure while watching her husband come down the van’s wheelchair lift.

Lisa was comforted by family and neighbors who came out for Joe’s homecoming. The Kaluzas’ son, Joshua, 21, was the only immediate family member not at the house, because he was at the Bev Masco Workshop, where he attends five days a week.

“We told him he’d have a surprise waiting for him when he got home,” said Lisa.

Joe had been home for weekend visits while in Cleveland.

During his latest visit, Sue House noticed how well he looked. “They’ve been taking such good care of him,” said House, Joe’s neighbor for six years. He was riding up and down the sidewalks then, and joking about mowing the lawn, said House, who told Joe she would put blades under his wheelchair.

While waiting, other neighbors chimed in with stories of their own about Joe’s cooking and helpful ways.

“I can’t forget how kind he’s been as a neighbor,” said Ann Kozar, who plans on returning the favor now that Joe is home.

“Whatever he likes, I’m making it for him,” Kozar said.

When Joe finally made his grand entrance, there were applause and cheers, but mostly hugs with joyful streams of tears.

“There are really no words to say how I feel,” said Esther Kaluza, Joe’s mother, who was simply relieved to have her son back.

Joe is in a motorized wheelchair that he is able to operate by himself. The chair has a special feature called a sip and puff that allows Joe to move the chair with his mouth and also a button behind his head, said Anna Fitzgerald, his sister.

On his way home, Fitzgerald said, Joe kept asking what time it was and if they were there yet.

“I’m doing OK,” said Joe, who is most looking forward to spending time with his family and not having to worry about going back to the hospital.

Joe will continue to participate in rehabilitation. He will do some therapy at home and remain in the area for other therapy sessions, said Fitzgerald.

Some expenses for therapy and other necessities Joe will need are being met by the constant support of Valley residents.

Joe recognized all the support that has been given to him and his family. “I was just a restaurant manager, an ordinary person,” he said, amazed at the willingness of people to give to someone in his circumstances.

“The community help has been wonderful,” said Joe, who believes no one deserves to have crime affect their life in the way it has affected his. Family helps him overcome the situation, he added.