SHOT & LEFT FOR DEAD

The Day I Was Shot and Left for Dead — And What God Taught Me About Redemption

The day I was shot and left for dead forever changed my perspective on life. It’s not just a story of survival — it’s a story of grace, redemption, and purpose.

On July 4, 2021, in broad daylight, the enemy tried to take me out. I heard the shot ring out, but it took a moment for my mind to register that it was me who had been hit. I reached up and felt blood shooting from my neck, and I remember asking myself, “Did he just shoot me?” Before I could even answer, I was shot again.

Two bullets pierced my shoulder, neck, face, and hand. I collapsed to the sidewalk — alone. The families that had been outside ran indoors for safety, and I was left lying there, trying to process what was happening.

I remember whispering, “God, I can’t die right now.” I thought of my family, of everything I hadn’t said or done, of the life I still had left to live.

Later, doctors told me I shouldn’t have survived. They said I should not have been able to speak after that first bullet tore through my neck and lodged in my jaw. But by the grace of God — I lived. His mighty hand was upon me.

The Shooter — and Forgiveness

The man who shot me wasn’t a stranger. I knew him. We had no ongoing communication at the time — in fact, I hadn’t seen or spoken to him for three months before that day. He was later held accountable and sentenced to 23 years in prison.

And I need you to hear me when I say this: I have forgiven him. Truly.

Because this story isn’t about the shooter — it’s about the spiritual realm. The shooter was a pawn in the hands of the enemy, but the story itself is about the God I serve — the God who never left me, never forsook me, and whose purpose will always prevail.

The Truth About Trauma and Addiction

People often see the victory, the healing, the survivor story. But before the triumph, there was a lot of pain.

Years of childhood trauma buried deep down — things I never faced — eventually came out in destructive ways. That’s what happens when you don’t deal with pain; it grows roots. The mind begins to break down under the weight of unhealed wounds, and if you’re not careful, those wounds can lead you to places you never thought you’d go — including addiction.

Addiction became my way of numbing what I didn’t want to feel. I didn’t see it at the time, but I was running from myself — from the little girl inside me who was still hurting, still afraid, still waiting for someone to say, “It’s okay to not be okay.”

But healing began the moment I decided to face my pain and accept help. Seeking help is not weakness — it’s wisdom. Whether that help comes through therapy, faith-based support, recovery programs, or trusted friends — you need people who remind you of who you are when you forget.

The Power of Support and Healthy Relationships

Recovery taught me that not everyone is meant to walk with you into healing. Some people will stand by silently as you fall apart — not because they don’t care, but because they’re not equipped to help you rise.

That’s why it’s so important to surround yourself with people who lift you up, challenge you, pray for you, and hold you accountable. Healing happens in community, not isolation.

God’s Purpose Always Prevails

Even after being shot, my life didn’t instantly become perfect. I still made mistakes. I still stumbled. But through it all, God’s hand was steady on my life.

This journey isn’t about pretending to be perfect — it’s about walking in purpose despite imperfection. I am a living testimony that God can turn pain into power, trauma into testimony, and brokenness into beauty.

So yes — I was shot and left for dead. But I’m still here. And I refuse to waste the second chance God gave me.

If you’ve ever felt lost, broken, or beyond repair, I want you to know — you’re not too far gone. God’s grace reaches deeper than your darkest moment.

My story is one of many wrong decisions, many second chances, and ultimate redemption. And I’ll keep sharing it, not because it’s easy — but because someone needs to know that even when the enemy plots your destruction, God still has the final say.