On July 18th, 2020, then 7-year-old Gavin Ludwick was brutally attacked while walking home by one of his neighbors. Gavin was in critical condition and had to be airlifted to Loma Linda University's Children's Hospital due to the injuries he sustained to his head. He has undergone several surgeries, doctors had to replace part of his skull with a metal plate and even underwent some plastic surgery due to the injuries he sustained. A neighbor of Gavin's found him lying facedown on the pavement after his attack. The neighbor that found Gavin, Alturo Delgado discussed what he saw.
"At first glance I didn't see him until I turned the car over and I saw his body and at first glance I couldn't believe it, I thought it was my imagination,"
Delgado told News Channel 3 last July
A year later, Gavin is recovering very well and is optimistic about the future. During the last year, the Ludwick family have been in and out of the hospital. Gavin has been absolutely resilient and has shown so much strength since sustaining his injuries.
Gavin's mother, Wendy Ludwick planned multiple fun events this summer after such a difficult year for Gavin and his family. "Last summer was so hard with being in the hospital and the attack and everything that I wanted to make this summer happy and fun,"... "We started at San Diego Zoo and then we went to Disneyland and then we went to Sea World and the last trip we went to Knott's Berry Farm. Gavin said his favorite was Sea World because he loved the dolphins."
Ludwick said
The suspect, Daniel Poulsen, a neighbor that lived a few houses down from the Ludwick's was arrested and charged with attempted murder. Though many proceedings have been delayed and suspended, Poulsen is currently scheduled to be in court on August 25th to determine whether he is mentally competent to stand trial.
To donate to Gavin, please visit this GoFundMe to support him.