A former girlfriend of the 22-year-old man who was shot while sitting in a parked car in Cole Harbour three weeks ago is speaking out, having launched a crowdfunding campaign to raise money for the necessary equipment to help him rehabilitate.

"I was quite devastated," Melissa MacKinnon told CBC News after learning about the incident.

"It's very humbling for a lot of us. It makes me realize, for me, anyone and my family — it made us realize how important things are and some things aren't."

On Nov. 5, police responded to Merrimac Drive where the man — who MacKinnon refers to using only his first name of Carlos — was sitting in a parked car and shot. He was taken to hospital with serious injuries to his eyes.

"He has no sight whatsoever and there's no chance of him ever getting it again," said MacKinnon, who won't disclose Carlos's last name.

No arrests have yet been made in the shooting.

MacKinnon started the GoFundMe campaign one week after Carlos was shot. It has so far raised $1,050 of $10,000 goal. According to the campaign's page, the money will go to Carlos's mother for "all of the accommodations that Carlos will require."

"I can't change what's already been done and there's no point in dwelling on it. Everybody has a lot of questions," she said.

"That's not my focus. It's on how this has negatively impacted, obviously, everybody's life and what we can do moving forward to make the best of the situation, which we have been and we will."

'Very, very grateful'

MacKinnon and Carlos are parents to a four-year-old son, who shares his father's name. Since they're new to all of this, MacKinnon said, they're taking it day by day.

"Given the circumstances around the situation it's going to be a big change in his life in order to be a productive member of society again," she said.

"So, of course there are going to be certain electronics or cellphones or what have you that he's going to need for him to have the ability to communicate with people or to know what time it is."

MacKinnon said Carlos has been the one to lift everyone's spirits during his recovery. Those spirits have been lifted even higher by fundraising contributions

"I'm very, very grateful for that personally because I think it's amazing when people reach out and you know ... not everybody can financially afford to contribute," she said.

"Especially, the comments have meant a lot to me and him as well. I'm very, very appreciative, and very grateful. And so is he."