“When he arrived at the hospital, he was unconscious,” Lucero said. “His father died two years ago. He said that he saw him in the emergency room waiting for him. For seven seconds, he was diagnosed dead.”

Mr. De Alba had serious internal injuries, and his recuperation has been slow. Doctors recently found pus inside of him from intestinal leakage. With tubes in his nostrils, and unable to eat or drink, he and his relatives have more questions than answers about how long his recovery will take. He was not paralyzed, and is able to walk, but they wonder how independently mobile he will be when he is released.

A few days ago, he saw therapy dogs in the hospital. On Thursday he asked a hospital executive whether he could spend time with one. The St. Bernard or the Great Dane, he was asked. He thought for a moment. The Great Dane.

On Thursday, his daughter and wife stopped by his room before his surgery. Later, everyone gathered in the lobby to say goodbye to Lucero. Four weeks after the massacre, Erika walks with a slight limp and Oliva still has a cast on her wrist and thumb. Erika smiled and giggled outside the gift shop. Lucero bought her a candy bar.

Mr. De Alba said he believed that their fate could have been different. They could have been killed as they hid, just like the man who had been praying beside them. Erika, he said, is his inspiration to recover.

“I’ve been focusing on being grateful,” he said. “My daughter visits almost every day. What else can I ask of life?”