The Halo Is Still on Agustin Luz

The doctors call it a “halo,” that black metal loop that had been screwed to Agustin Luz’s skull to help ensure that his broken neck would heal properly. Now the halo has been removed, leaving small scars at the sides of his forehead.

Even when he couldn’t move his head, people who met Agustin Luz were struck by his soft-spoken optimism. Luz will sit in a wheelchair for months to come, but now he is able to shake his head in wonder and gratitude at the way so many strangers have come to his aid, much as he had come to a stranger’s aid that night in May.

Perhaps you remember the story: Sharon Marie McPherson, a 43-year-old widowed mother of six, had run out of gas on Glenoaks Boulevard near Burbank High School with three of her children in her car. At about 10 p.m. she knocked on Agustin Luz’s door. Luz, 28, married and the father of two young children, drove McPherson to a nearby gas station. He was helping her put gasoline in her car when both were struck by a hit-and-run driver.

McPherson was pronounced dead later that night at Providence St. Joseph Medical Center. Within hours a Glendale man was arrested and now faces charges of vehicular manslaughter. He allegedly had been drinking for eight hours before the incident.

Luz’s injuries, meanwhile, would keep him in Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center for six weeks before he was able to come home with his wheelchair and halo.

From the start, people in Burbank responded to the tragedy. The first question was how to help the five McPherson orphans, ages 4 to 17. Temporary housing could be found, but it seemed likely that they would ultimately be placed in different foster homes. How could you separate children after such an ordeal, a tragedy that three of them had witnessed?

Burbank Police Lt. Ed Skvarna learned they had an older sister, married with two young children, living in Hamilton, Ohio. Skvarna called the sister, Carrie Brown, and told her the sad news. Yes, she and her husband, a machine operator, would take in her younger brothers and sisters. Skvarna put five airplane tickets on his credit card, a cost later reimbursed by American Airlines. The Burbank Police Officers Assn. soon established a fund to help the family.

Angelita Vargas, meanwhile, worried for the future of the Luz family, her next-door neighbors. How would they get by without Agustin’s salary as a house painter? What about the medical bills the county wouldn’t cover? After she told fellow members of the nondenominational Village Church on Victory Boulevard of the family’s troubles, the church began to raise money to help the Luz family--more than $6,000 so far. The Burbank Temporary Aid Center also provided food and diapers.

Then a local newspaper, the Burbank Leader, published a story about the Luz family, describing how 25-year-old Beatriz was now caring for her husband and daughters Melanie, 5, and Veronica, 8 months. Beatriz spoke proudly of her husband’s willingness to help people.

Stephen Veres, the retired owner of an engineering firm, found the Luzes’ number in the phone book and told them he wanted to help.

“I asked him what he needed,” Veres recalled, “and he said, ‘Mayonnaise, milk, onions. . . .’ ”

Grocery shopping was a problem because Agustin couldn’t look after the kids alone. One day Veres and his wife, Elaine, brought the Luz family a load of groceries--chicken, beef, eggs, fresh fruit, vegetables. The warmth of the Luz family made a big impression.

A few days later, Veres talked about his visit at a meeting of the Burbank Kiwanis Club. Other members of the service organization had read the Leader story, too. Veres proposed that the club try to help both the Luz family and McPherson’s children. When he sat down, one man “just shoved $100 into my hand,” Veres said, and another wrote a check for $100.

The Burbank Kiwanis decided to establish its own Luz-McPherson Relief Fund, committing $5,000 of the club’s money, exclusive of individual contributions. The Walt Disney Co. has donated clothing for the families.

The police officers group, meanwhile, helped arrange for the Luz family to move from their old one-bedroom apartment to a two-bedroom city-owned unit that is accessible to wheelchairs. The police group has also organized a fund-raiser for Sept. 10 in which several local restaurants will donate proceeds from customers who bring fliers or newspaper articles concerning the effort. So far, Barron’s Cafe, Bella Vista, the Bombay Bicycle Club, Genio’s, Hot Diggity Dogs, Kenny Rogers Roasters and Shakey’s Pizza have joined the drive.

Veres keeps track of the Kiwanis fund-raising effort in a thick three-ring binder. Along with copies of fliers and letters soliciting funds are copies of checks. An elderly woman sent $5 along with a note: “I’m on Social Security and just making it by, but I know this family needs it more than I do.”

One day he took the Luz family to a Kiwanis meeting. An elderly woman approached after Veres had helped Agustin Luz out of his wheelchair and into the car.

“Is that the young man who helped the lady who got killed?” the woman asked.

Veres introduced the stranger to Luz. She offered him a $20 bill. “You’re a wonderful man,” she told him. “I can’t help you too much, but I’d like you to have this.”

As gratifying as it has been to watch the Luz family’s progress, Veres says, it has been frustrating to follow the McPhersons. Even before Carrie Brown and her husband took in her siblings, the family lived in modest circumstances; recently, their phone was disconnected. Veres says that he has asked the Hamilton Kiwanis Club to join the effort to help the family.

A few weeks ago, Veres said, he asked Carrie Brown how her husband was handling the new responsibilities. “Well,” she told him, “my husband loves me.”

Agustin Luz, who immigrated to Los Angeles from Mexico City seven years ago, understands that it may be a year before he is able to work again. He underwent surgery three times. During one 11-hour operation, 15 pins were inserted to mend his broken pelvis. Another session of equal duration left him with nine pins along his spine.

The generosity seems to have made him as bewildered as he is grateful. Family and friends rushed to his aid, but he didn’t anticipate that so many strangers would want to help.

“This is a feeling like. . .”--here he paused, struggling for the words--”Oh God, this is beautiful. It’s incredible . . .

“Can you please write, for everybody who has helped us: Thank you very much.”’

Donations may be made to Luz-McPherson Relief Fund, c/o Stephen Veres, 3001 W. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank 91505 or the Agustin Luz Fund at Village Church, 3216 W. Victory Blvd., Burbank 91505.

Scott Harris’ column appears Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. Readers may write to him at The Times Valley Edition, 20000 Prairie St., Chatsworth 91311, or via e-mail at [email protected] Please include a phone number.