Fundraiser Saturday at American Legion for Jorge Perez

</element><element id="paragraph-1" type="body"><![CDATA[Jorge Perez was in the newspaper's office for the first time since returning to Du Quoin from a St. Louis hospital several days ago.

Jorge is the Du Quoin husband and father who suffered head injuries during an employee altercation last spring at Kellerman's Powder Coating north of Du Quoin.

A Saturday fundraiser at the American Legion in Du Quoin could make a difference in the daily lives of Jorge and wife Mindy as his recovery continues.

Except for a scar on his head from surgery and a scar on his stomach from where a small skull fragment is being stored until it can be transplanted back into his head he looked great!

"We have good days and bad," said Mindy as she spoke appreciately about the 4 p.m.-7 p.m. benefit at the legion. He has been put under guardianship (so the family can better deal with the bills and medical paperwork. We go in two weeks for a CAT scan and they will make the decision in November to replace that part of his skull.

"The Kellermans have been a lot of help to our family. Things are coming back to him. His memory is coming back. The heat is not a good thing, but he is walking and wading," she said. Things are a little better each day.

The Du Quoin American Legion is located at 900 South Jefferson Street. A meal will be served from 4 p.m.until 7 p.m. Carry-outs will be available. The cost is $8 for adults, $5 for children 12 and under. Toddlers age and under eat free if you dine in. All carry-outs are $8.

The meal will include your choice of Italian beef or a barbecue sandwich or hot dog. Side dishes will included baked beans, chips, slaw and dessert with lemonade, tea and coffee to drink.

You are invited to enjoy dinner followed by the silent auction at 7:15 p.m. and a 50/50 drawing and raffle. Dozens of items will be offered.

There is also expected to be music.

The family has incurred extraordinary medical bills. Neither Jorge nor Mindy work as his care continues and the money will help sustain their daily lives through this ordeal.

This is an extraordinary couple during an extraordinary recovery effort.