SAN ANTONIO – Family and friends gathered Saturday for a special visit to Vietnam vet Roberto Gonzalez.
Gonzalez is a spinal injury patient at San Antonio's Audie Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital.
Among the friends, two that Gonzalez had longed to see.
They were his horses.
The veteran from Premont told his family he wanted the horses to make the 150 mile trip to the VA hospital.
The family was happy to bring Gonzalez his special friends, and Saturday he and his horses had a happy reunion.
"He never let his injuries slow him down. He loved horses, he loved cattle, he loved ranching and farming. He was proud to serve his country," said Rosario Gonzalez, Roberto's wife.
She said that even though he couldn't speak, she could see the emotion on her husband's face when he saw his beloved horses. She said Roberto's hospital stay has been hard on him and the family, but Saturday's visit will be a moment she'll never forget.
"(The doctors) are not very optimistic. But we never give up hope. We have faith, so we put everything in God's hands," she said.
VA photographer Lupe Hernandez captured the moment and, with permission from the family, shared them with KSAT.
The Army veteran was paralyzed during the Vietnam War, Hernandez' email stated.
Bedridden, Gonzalez was wheeled outside the hospital. In the pictures you can see two horses and Gonzalez’ family.
We would like to thank Roberto Gonzalez for his service and sacrifice.