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thedrifter
10-05-07, 03:45 PM
Former Eastwood Gymnast On Road To Recovery
Monica Balderrama-KFOX News Reporter

POSTED: 5:14 pm MDT October 4, 2007

EL PASO, Texas -- Angel Flores, 20, has an optimistic outlook after being assaulted with a brick. El Paso police have made arrests, and now Flores' trying to piece his life back together.

Flores' life changed in a matter of moments.

"Some things happen so fast that you wish you had a remote to press rewind," said Flores.

As KFOX reported, Flores was getting ready to leave for Marine boot camp. On the night of his goodbye party, back in May, a brick was thrown at him. About a month later, police arrested two men, one is underage the other is 17-year-old Mark Rendon.

"While in ICU, it's like sleeping, there's no pain," said Flores.

He said he didn't know what hit him at the time, but later he found it was a 10-pound brick. He said he feels lucky to be alive.

The force of the flying brick was so great, Flores' insides were severely damaged. He's had six surgeries and had to learn how to walk again. But what probably hurts Angel the most is the fact he can't rejoin the Marines and that he can't do what he loves the most, and that's gymnastics.

"It's pretty frustrating. When you do gymnastics yourself, it's a good feeling, but when you teach someone else gymnastics and you see them doing it, the feeling is almost as good," said Flores.

What is also good is that he's alive, he said. When KFOX asked him if he felt anger toward the two men who did this, he said there's no room for that. The only thing he sees is a bright horizon.

Flores has another surgery scheduled next June with a recovery period of six months. He said if everything goes well, there's a chance he may try gymnastics again.

Ellie