268,557
total hearts received for Moments That Survive

Shannon Daniel-Waitas

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Life with John was a roller coaster ride.  He struggled with Bipolar Disorder and Depression, diagnosed after John told a co-worker he was building a bomb to bring to his work. Mental illness was not the only thing John wrestled with.  He told me about physical abuse he suffered as a child, as well as violence he perpetrated on his classmates and some of his girlfriends.  He struggled with addiction, and was abusive to my daughters, our sons, and myself.  John saved his worst for our family.

In May of 2013, John purchased a handgun and an AR-15.  We argued over him having guns, and he decided that if the guns had to go, so did he. We decided to divorce a year later, but he began stalking and threatening me and any guest that came to my home.  He was spiraling quickly.  On October 6, 2014, he came to my home and tried to shoot and kill me. He forced me to watch as he murdered my boyfriend and committed suicide, all while our sons were in the next room.  He left our family shattered, afraid, and traumatized.

Reacting shows support for gun violence survivors.

268,557