My dad and I were victims in a mass shooting when I was 11. The shooter had purchased his ammo at a nearby department store minutes before he opened fire. Thankfully, nobody was killed, but my father was shot while attempting to protect me as we fled the area. He fully recovered, but both of us thereafter had to learn to live with the effects of PTSD.
I am now in my mid-20s, and my dad has since passed away. Living with PTSD has been a series of ups and downs, but learning that I’m not alone in my struggles and triumphs through talking to other survivors has been a comfort.