A mother's powerful letter about her child's experience hiding from the Santa Fe shooter

[AllThatJazzZ]

A mother's powerful letter about her child's experience hiding from the Santa Fe shooter

By AnneClaire Stapleton, CNN
Updated 6:38 PM ET, Sat May 19, 2018

(CNN) — Deedra Van Ness, the mother of a student who survived Friday's deadly shooting at a Texas high school, took to social media on Saturday to share her family's harrowing tale.

In a letter titled "The longest day of my life," Van Ness described her 15-year-old daughter Isabelle Laymance's frightening experience hiding with classmates in a classroom closet as a gunman roamed the halls of Santa Fe High School, killing 10 people and wounding many others.

Van Ness said she chose to make her letter public because "it's important for people to hear these stories and truly understand the impact."

The full letter is published below:

As my daughter finally sleeps, I no longer can keep the tears from falling. We see / hear about these tragedies through a TV screen once removed. While we grieve with and for the families, we truly have no idea what they are experiencing.

The outpouring of prayers and love from across the country have been very much appreciated by our family. And for those saying that sending prayers means nothing, all I can say is STFU! You have no idea how much it meant to us today knowing we were not alone in praying for our child.

I've talked to some people today and... https://www.cnn.com/2018/05/19/us/santa-fe-high-school-deedra-van-ness/index.html

[Slide Rule]

No doubt the letter was heart rendering.

Right up the alley for CNN.

This is precisely the type of letter that will get others shot.

The lady should use her gift to oppose not enable.

:)

[Axeslinger]

No doubt the letter was heart rendering.

Right up the alley for CNN.

This is precisely the type of letter that will get others shot.

The lady should use her gift to oppose not enable.

:)

@Slide Rule You should maybe read the letter before you render your judgments..  She makes no statement one way or the other about any of the political issues.  It is merely an accounting of what transpired for her daughter in that classroom, what transpired for herself after her daughters call, and what the rest of the day was like for her family. 

I am one of the staunchest 2A guys on TBR and I had no problem with her letter whatsoever

[verga]

From the letter: Unbelievably, other students are bullying her on social media. Blaming her for not trying to do more to save her classmates, calling her a liar about what happened, etc. I tell her it's time to shut off social media and put the phone away.

This girl was in the closet where two students were killed and several were wounded. What kind of @$$hole does this this to another person. What more did they want her to do?

[Slide Rule]

@Slide Rule You should maybe read the letter before you render your judgments..  She makes no statement one way or the other about any of the political issues.  It is merely an accounting of what transpired for her daughter in that classroom, what transpired for herself after her daughters call, and what the rest of the day was like for her family. 

I am one of the staunchest 2A guys on TBR and I had no problem with her letter whatsoever

I did read the letter before posting.

It was a beautiful letter. Something once
written should have been placed under lock and key.

All the commentary about helpfulness doesn't help despite
it all.

As to your staunch level. I'd say you need an injection.
The devil made me say that.

Warmest,
Al

[IsailedawayfromFR]

She should be sending that letter to the coward school guard who chose to save himself rather than kids he was hired to protect.

[Smokin Joe]

She should be sending that letter to the coward school guard who chose to save himself rather than kids he was hired to protect.

This was Santa Fe, not Parkland.

[AllThatJazzZ]

She should be sending that letter to the coward school guard who chose to save himself rather than kids he was hired to protect.

@IsailedawayfromFR

Just so you're clear...

Update on Santa Fe ISD Police Officer John Barnes, who was seriously wounded and nearly killed while confronting a school shooter: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/galveston/articleComments/Officer-injured-during-Santa-Fe-High-School-12974315.php

Thanks, @Smokin Joe, for setting the record straight.

[Smokin Joe]

@IsailedawayfromFR

Just so you're clear...

Update on Santa Fe ISD Police Officer John Barnes, who was seriously wounded and nearly killed while confronting a school shooter: https://www.houstonchronicle.com/neighborhood/galveston/articleComments/Officer-injured-during-Santa-Fe-High-School-12974315.php

Thanks, @Smokin Joe, for setting the record straight.

You're welcome! I just hate it when the guys who do right get lumped in with the ones who don't.
This guy flatlined twice from doing his job, and the world is a better place because the doctors got him back.

[IsailedawayfromFR]

This was Santa Fe, not Parkland.

So right.  Sorry for confusion.