The doctors found the damage was caused by hundreds of birdshot pellets that entered through her cheekbone. Her lower jaw and cheek were destroyed. Orozco's jaw was reconstructed through the use of parts of her fibula bone in her leg.
After her recovery, she went on to win prom queen and graduate from high school. Orozco never gave up, and kept on striving to reach her goals, such as attending college. At the trial, her ex-boyfriend pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 27 years in prison for the crime. Her pure, kind heart shone through that day when she read her ex-boyfriend a poem. She said she did not hate him even after all she had been through.
My own personal encounter with a gun came when I was working at a dental clinic. I grabbed a patient's coat to be polite while I transported him to a different room. His coat was extremely heavy, and in a hand-sewn pocket, I saw a glint of silver. The patient saw my reaction, and he threatened me, saying not tell anyone or I'd regret it. I kept it a secret for long enough, and I am no longer keeping my promise, because this issue of gun violence needs to be addressed. Guns solve nothing and only create devastation and heartache.
So just remember: if there is a conflict between you and another person, don't retaliate through the use of gun violence. People need to talk through their issues with each other, and not destroy another's life. Remember that once the trigger is pulled, there is no turning back, and you cannot run from your decision to end a person's life. The decision lives on with you forever.
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
