'I just tell him how much I miss him:' Wife of wounded officer gives update on condition

Officer Kevin Valencia still hospitalized after being shot in the line of duty

ORLANDO, Fla. – In a crowd full of SWAT officers crawling through mud at an international SWAT competition in the east end of Orange County, Meghan Valencia proudly wears a shirt representing Orlando Police's SWAT team named the "Bad Mickeys."

It's a long-sleeved black shirt with prayer hands over the name Officer Kevin Valencia, Meghan's husband who was shot in the line of duty in June. 

"This was one of his big dreams," Meghan Valencia said speaking of the SWAT team. "They gave me this shirt and said this was all for Kevin and I just bursted into tears."

Meghan Valencia says her family has gotten bigger since her husband was shot. Her law enforcement brothers and sisters in blue are by her side while she is by Kevin Valencia's. 

Kevin Valencia was shot in the line of duty on June 11, responding to a domestic violence call that began a daylong standoff that resulted in four children and the gunman dead. 

In late June, Kevin Valencia was taken to the Shepherd Center, a brain and spinal cord rehabilitation center in Georgia. Since then, his wife Meghan Valencia has been dividing her time between Florida and Georgia. 

She says Kevin Valencia is continuing to undergo several surgeries and that doctors have officially told her he will lose the eye where the bullet went through, however she says Kevin Valencia's other eye is now open and looking at her when she speaks. 

"He will look at you when you talk to him," Meghan Valencia said crying. "I just tell him how much I miss him and how much I love him."

Meghan Valencia also said she's thankful to the community for giving to Officer Valencia's GoFundMe page. Because of that, she says she and her two children will be able to fly up to Atlanta and stay at a hotel just in time for Thanksgiving. 

"We can all be together on Thanksgiving, which means so much to me," she said knowing this holiday season is going to be tough. "I just want to thank the community for everything they have sent my way for my kids, it means a lot to me."


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