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06:55 PM EDT on Friday, June 30, 2006

By WCNC.com Staff
E-mail Us: 6NEWS@WCNC.com

6NEWS

Ross & Ryan Minor were shot by their father, police said.

For the first time the grandmother of two children allegedly shot by their father is speaking out. She told 6NEWS that the shootings not only took Ross Minor's older brother, but also, his eyesight.

Joan Currey still cannot comprehend the crime. Her grandsons were shot while they slept, their father, the alleged gunman, took his own life.

One of the boys, Ryan Minor, 10, died from his injuries. His younger brother Ross Minor, 8, survived and was released from the hospital this week.

“He's just a fun loving kid,” Currey said.

Doctors believe Ross Minor survived permanent brain damage, but the third grader has lost his sight and the most common tasks are now a chore.

“(He is) kind of being taught how to feed himself a little, but he's making some progress. Of course, it's frustrating for him,” Currey said.

Currey is amazed at her grandson's recovery, but worries about her daughter.

“I think she's (Grace Minor) doing remarkably well, but I'm concerned with all that she has to bear,” Curry said.

The family is still reeling from an unimaginable tragedy. Police said Mark Minor grew upset about a pending separation with his wife and allegedly shot his two sons before taking his own life. Ten- year-old Ryan Minor died just hours after the shooting.

“The only way that Grace can resolve losing him (Ryan) is that he lives on because he was an organ donor,” Currey said.

Ryan's heart was given to another child in North Carolina and his other organs are helping kids in at least five other states.

“So he is living on in other people and that gives us consolation,” Currey said.

Video on Demand

Raw interview with the grandmother of Ross & Ryan Minor  

Ross Minor blind after shooting  

NEW video at this hour 

Also online

Contribute to the Ross Minor medical fund

Read Grace Minor's blog

The surviving child is now interacting with kids from his school.

“We are one big family at St. Matthews, everybody wants to help everybody,” Currey said.

Meanwhile, Ross Minor is slowly returning to life as an eight-year-old.

“I think yesterday he asked for corn dogs so that was progress,” Currey said.

To read Grace Minor's blog, click on the link and then click visitor. On the visitor page, type "Rossminor."