31OCT1997 I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I ended up in the wrong neighborhood, to make a long story short I was shot several times and almost beaten to death. After 16 hours on the operating table, four reconstructive surguries, and four months in a hospital. I left the hospital scared in more ways than one. I found myself afraid of everything, mainly among people. I could not go into public places nor could I have any kind of personal relationship with others. I lost my job, my friends, and almost my family just because I was always expecting the worst in every situation. One year later, I found another job with little public contact but still would not leave my home for anything other than work. Then one day something happened and I said I have had enough I was tired of losing everyone that meant something to me in my life. I put myself thru a major overhaul. Five years later with family support a whole lot of prayer and a few hundred blessings from above. With no help from medications nor therapy I was able to be human again. I remarried the mother of my children and now I work in public relations in a US Government Agency.

For many years I could not look people in the eye. I could not handle people raising thier voices nor loud noises. Seeing people large groups of people really bothered me too. I am to the point now that only loud noises and sometimes raised voices bother me. Maybe my skin has gotten thicker with age and time. Now I am happier and healthier than I was before the “accident.”

If I can do it, you can do it too… even if you have to have therapy and medication some people need a little more to get thru. But it is really worth it, there is someone out there that may be missing you.