I sat in my living room, waiting on my children to return from a birthday dinner at Olive Garden. My phone rang, and I answered. On the other end, my daughter’s friend says, “Megan is shot.” I didn’t hear much of anything after that. In the front of the police officer’s car, I was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital. My youngest daughter was shot and in surgery; the older daughter was released from urgent care after she was examined.
My life forever changed that night. I spent the next month at the hospital, waiting and praying for Megan’s life to be spared. You see, it didn’t matter to me if she would be whole again. I just wanted her to live.
My faith was tested more than I would have thought because I have one child in the ICU and one that was so shaken up because she was driving the car that almost became their grave. Our sense of safety has changed forever. But ever since that day, we have been active in our community and state, trying to prevent others from going through the same trauma.