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total hearts received for Moments That Survive

Monae Alexandria Chavez

My name is Monae Chavez. I’m a victim of gun violence. When I was 15 years old, I was involved in a drive-by shooting in Albuquerque, New Mexico. I was in the cargo area of a vehicle packed with people. The people who fired shot at least 20 to 30 bullets aimed at that part of the vehicle. I ended up getting shot three times: Once in the head, through my frontal lobe, causing a traumatic brain injury. I also got hit in my right femur, which caused it to break; one also went through my left leg. I was hospitalized for only three weeks.

I remember almost every moment after I woke up. I dealt with being in a wheelchair after I was discharged, then crutches; the bullet in my right femur was still inside of my leg. I was in so much pain, it hurt to sit down. My head hurt severely for almost a year. I was angry due to the TBI and the fact that I even got shot in the first place. I still don’t know who did it, to this day, but I’ve accepted it, and I’m grateful to be alive and in the condition I’m in.

Reacting shows support for gun violence survivors.

268,564