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Pick a point!
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 December 1st, 1997. Missy Jenkins and some of her peers joined hands in a circle and prayed as they read the Bible. The group finished the prayer with an "amen" and began to disperse. Suddenly, the sound of a bullet whizzing through the air was heard, and Missy's friend Nicole fell to the ground. Missy thought it was just a dramatic joke and Nicole was faking it. But Nicole didn't get up. A moment later, Missy was shot to the ground, too. And so began the awful event that left Missy paralysed from the chest down and in a wheelchair. A student named Michael had been waiting in the lobby with a gun. As the prayer group broke up, he had beguin open-fire. Who knows why. With his gun, he killed three students and injured five. Nicole was one of those killed. Michael was taken to court in October, 1998. Missy was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. She had been shot through the chest, just below the shoulder, and the bullet had just grazed her lung, filling it with blood. She was in intensive care for a while, and saw the funeral of the three kids who died. Her parents, twin Mandy, and older sister came to visit, as well as her cat and dog. Once she was feeling better and was actually able to sit up, she was transfered to a new center. At this new center, rehab took place from 7:00 AM to 4:30 PM. It was tough, but taught Missy alot about how to take care of herself. Everything had to be relearned: how to wash, go to the bathroom, dress, and swim, to name a few. Missy is still in a wheelchair, but believes that someday she will be able to walk again. The doctors tell her it's impossible, but if everyone to listened to that kind of advice, would there be any growth in the world? Missy feels it hasn't been too hard for her, really, and that she must have been shot for a reason, though she doesn't know what. But she still doesn't feel safe at school. The Jenkins family has established a foundation to collect donations to help with Missy's medical expenses. Contributions can be sent to: Missy Jenkins Trust Fund  |
