"911 what is your emergency?" a woman asked calmly. Minutes later the parade of ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars arrived. The men rushed into the house and quickly put my mother on a stretcher. That was the moment I realized it was really happening. My mother had been shot. Of course, I never realized how devastating the death of a loved one could be until I actually had to go through it. Like most people I always thought that the horrible crimes I saw on television would never effect me. I never expect that such a tragedy could happen to my family. I never imagined that it would actually be my city, my neighborhood and my family that the evil person would choose. Well, I was wrong. After I experienced the shooting of my mother, her death, and the murder trial I then realized how easy it is to take for granted not only how precious life is, but also take for granted the people whom I love dearly.
It had been a normal day. I had gotten up, dad had taken us to school, and mom had picked me up. It was a Monday, which meant that I got to spend the whole afternoon alone with mom, so of course I was excited. Like always, Dad called at 5:00 p.m. checking in on us and asking what we were having for dinner. The next event I could have never imagined. I had been looking in the refrigerator for some vegetables, and Mom had been washing dishes; and then suddenly from out of nowhere a man had come in through our back door and shot my mother . I called 911 and instinctively gave my mom CPR while I waited on the paramedics to arrive.
The next 26 days were by far the hardest 26days I had ever gone through in my life. Mother was in the Intensive Care Unit for almost 4 weeks. After many endless days and nights staying by Mom's side hoping and praying that a miracle would happen - my father came to us with the devastating news. The doctors had concluded that even if mom lived, she would have the mental capability of a two year old, and that she would have to be under constant supervision for the rest of her life.