2007 ONPA Pictures of the Year

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

On March 5, 2007, Johanna Orozco was shot in the face by her obsessed ex-boyfriend Juan Ruiz. The blast shattered the lower part of her face, leaving a puzzle of pieces to be put back together. As she sleeps in her hospital bed this past spring, Johanna Orozco tosses and moans. The disturbing dreams that invade the 18-year-old's sleep are part of the journey of mental healing she faces as doctors work to repair her face, damaged from a shotgun blast.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

A constant stream of visitors in the hospital room at MetroHealth.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Johanna Orozco is greeted by her godmother, Fabiola Mijangos, in her room at MetroHealth Center.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

While waiting days for her surgery, Johanna Orozco never loses her sense of humor as she jokes with friends on a Friday night at MetroHealth.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

On the morning of her surgery, Johanna Orozco is asked by Dr. Michael Fritz is she's scared. She motions with her thumb and index finger, a little bit.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Dr. Michael Fritz applies a tourniquet to cut off blood supply to the leg in which skin and bone will be removed and sewn to create Johanna's new jaw at MetroHealth.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Dr. Michael Fritz during a thirteen hour surgery to make Johanna's new jaw at MetroHealth.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Dr. Michael Fritz addresses more than a dozen members of Johanna Orozco's family after finishing a thirteen hour surgery to replace her lower jaw.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

An exhausted Johanna Orozco is supported by her grandmother, Juanita Orozco, after finishing her physical therapy session.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Johanna Orozco gets help from her aunt, Hilda Hernandez and a nurse as she takes her first steps, eleven days after having major surgery to reconstruct her jaw.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Johanna Orozco takes her first steps with a walker, eleven days after having major surgery to reconstruct her jaw. Orozco had skin and bone taken from her leg to use in the reconstruction of her jaw.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Johanna Orozco show how she protected herself with her hand from a shotgun blast from her ex-boyfriend.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Johanna Orozco gets a kiss from her grandfather while waiting for Dr. Michael Fritz to come by to discharge them.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Johanna Orozco gets into Maritza Santiago's burgundy Honda Accord. Orozco was driven to the hospital in the same car when she was shot.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Johanna flops onto her new bed, relieved when she gets to her Aunt Hilda Hernandez's house, where she decided to stay. She doesn't want to return to the house where she was shot.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Johanna has a CT scan done to chart her progress.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Dr. Michael Fritz photographs Johanna to chart her progress.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Johanna Orozco pops in to visit with teacher Sansan Day at Lincoln West High School. Day is the Japanese teacher at the high school.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Johanna Orozco dresses for prom. A portrait of her mother hangs on her wall.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

The limousine stopped many times on the near westside to have the prom goers photographed.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

With matching face covering made by her aunt, Hilda Hernandez, Johanna Orozco poses for prom pictures.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Johanna Orozco dances with a group of friends at the Lincoln West prom.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Johanna Orozco dances with prom king Zlatko Zlatanov after the two were named prom king and queen at the Lincoln West prom.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Johanna Orozco gets a helping hand from her grandmother, Juanita Orozco, as she makes her way down the stairs to the playing of Pomp and Circumstance.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Johanna raises her arms in celebration after graduation.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Johanna Orozco expresses her displeasure about a possible plea agreement as she talks to prosecutor Pinky Carr.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Johanna Orozco leans on her cousin, Cathy, as she waits to hear from the defense attorney whether they will plead out in Juan Ruiz's trial.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Juan Ruiz wipes away tears before pleading guilty to all charges of rape and attempted aggravated murder in the shooting of his former girlfriend, Johanna Orozco.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Johanna Orozco waits to hear from the defense attorney whether they will plead out in Juan Ruiz's trial.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Juan Ruiz buries his head as family members speak on behalf of Johanna Orozco during his sentencing. Ruiz was sentenced to 27 years without parole in the rape and aggravated attempted murder of Orozco.

First Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer

Johanna Orozco raises her arms in relief as she leaves the Justice Center after ex boyfriend Juan Ruiz pled guilty to all charges.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

Riley Potter is among almost 19,000 babies who are born prematurely in Ohio. The financial and emotional costs of saving babies who once would have died soon after birth have prompted ethical debates and even lawsuits from parents who say doctors defied their wishes and resuscitated a child certain to live a life of suffering and great expense. Riley Potter weighed slightly more than a pound when he was born in May, almost four months early. Dr. Christopher Timan checks Riley's heartbeat shortly after he arrived at Children's Hospital in early May.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

Riley's mother, Beth Potter views her son Riley from the unopened port in his incubator during a visit to Children's Hospital in early May. She would not get to touch him or hold him for several months.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

During one of their first visits to see Riley at Children's Hospital, Beth and Riley's father John Henry look over a reference book that details some of the medical challenges that Riley will face to survive.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

Sheltered in his incubator, Riley is surrounded by a roomful of medical equipment that helps to keep him alive. His father, John Henry was visiting after a long day at work installing heat and cooling units.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

Beth lifts a blanket that shields Riley's eyes from light and takes a photograph with a camera phone during a visit to Children's Hospital with her mother. They are still months away from being able to touch or hold Riley.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

RN Chantelle Seelig feeds Riley with a syringe full of special formula and a tiny amount of expressed mother's milk while John gets a status report from Dr. Christopher Timan.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

Beth, John and John's mother arrive for a Father's Day visit and find that Riley's condition has worsened and he may not survive. He is not growing and his already underdeveloped lungs have become infected.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

John looks back at Riley after a stressful Father's Day visit in the Neo Natal Intensive Care Unit after Riley's health has taken a turn for the worse.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

Riley is temporarily out of his incubator and John shields his eyes from the harsh light and holds his hand before a surgery on his eyes. Although his health is still fragile he must undergo the surgery or face permanent blindness.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

A team of nurses and technicians race Riley to an operating room for laser surgery on his eyes. The general anesthetic is a health risk to his fragile system and he must be off supplemental oxygen during the procedure.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

In an under lit operating room, Dr. Rick Golden will make about 1000 laser cuts on each of Riley's eyes to treat for retinopathy of prematurity. He must cut the abnormal blood vessels that grow and spread throughout the retina.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

Riley's eyes are held open while the doctor looks to see whether he has successfully cut enough of the abnormal blood vessels that would cause blindness.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

A respiratory technician manually breathes for Riley as he sits on the operating room gurney after surgery and waits to be returned to the safety of his incubator in the NeoNatal Intensive Care Unit.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

John holds hands with Riley while Beth gets to hold Riley for only the second time since his arrival at Children's Hospital in May.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

Beth holds up a beaker of expressed breast milk that is delivered to Riley by a tube directly to his stomach while John holds him for the first time. Riley stills a ventilator to breathe for him.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

John arrives on a visit after work without Beth and finds that Riley has progressed enough to be taken off of the ventilator that breathes for him.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

Without a ventilator, Riley is able to cry for the first time and John holds up a phone to his bed so that Beth, who had to stay home can hear him.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

RN Rose Smith looks up to check Riley's vitals after he was taken off the ventilator that was breathing for him. Although he is breathing for himself he will receive supplemental oxygen.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

Riley is not too happy about having to be weighed, but the 1.825 kilograms on the scale translates to a much healthier four pound baby.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

Beth is a first time mother who needs help from RN Lori Roese to change a diaper. That simple task is made more difficult by the maze of monitor wires and oxygen tubes that hang in the way.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

It did not take Beth long to get used to feeding Riley by hand and soon she was comfortable enough to even be bored with the process.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

With some encouragement and guidance from Beth, John feeds Riley a bottle for the first time during a visit at Children's Hospital.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

Although Riley is gaining weight and being fed with a bottle he still has a list of goals he must meet before he can leave the hospital. John looks over a set of cards that describe those goals Riley must meet while Beth feeds him.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

Because Riley was confined to an incubator for so long and was too sick to move on his own he has not developed normally and will need physical therapy to correct atrophied muscles. John is working with a therapist at the hospital to learn the exercises Riley will need to do at home.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

John tries his own hand at the physical therapy that Riley will need after he leaves Nationwide Children's Hospital.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

After learning that Riley might go home soon, Beth begins a day of classes to learn what Riley will need to live at home. Here she listens intently as a respiratory therapist explains the proper use of supplemental oxygen during a home visit .

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

After an early morning home visit and class with a respiratory therapist Beth arrives at Children's Hospital to learn the ins and outs of the machines and monitors Riley will need when he comes home.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

One of the many things Beth must learn and be tested on before she bring Riley home is the proper use of a child car seat. Here she gets a lesson in the Children's Hospital parking garage during a marathon day of lessons.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

For months Beth has relied on the Children's Hospital staff to care for Riley, but during a day full of lessons concerning the care she will have to give all by herself she begins to become overwhelmed and wipes away tears.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

After spending a stressful day by herself trying to learn all about Riley's at home care needs, Beth and John decide to spend all night at the hospital to get a crash course in his needs. Here John demonstrates his knowledge of infant CPR to an RN and Beth.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

Beth learns how to administer a treatment that helps Riley with his breathing. They will leave the hospital in the morning with a full time monitor, oxygen and a regimen of drugs and treatments for him.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

Beth feeds Riley every 3 hours while waiting for the hospital to discharge him while John sleeps on a portable bed in the background after an all night stay in the hospital.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

A respiratory therapist opens the car door for Beth and Riley while John struggles with Riley's portable oxygen tank as they leave Columbus Children's Hospital for home.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

Months after his birth Riley finally comes home to the working class neighborhood on Columbus west side, while John unpacks all the supplies they brought from the hospital.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

John stares at the new arrival while Beth readies the respiratory equipment that Riley will need to stay alive.

Second Place, James R. Gordon Ohio Understanding Award - Chris Russell / The Columbus Dispatch

After an overnight hospital visit and very little sleep, Beth sits on the living room sofa and stares at Riley. She will stay home and take care of the medically fragile baby while John is away at work.