The Lingering Impact of Mass Shootings on Survivors’ Existence

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Over a year has passed since Mayah Zamora, an 11-year-old, was critically wounded and evacuated via helicopter from Uvalde, Texas, following the tragic event at Robb Elementary school where 19 children and two educators lost their lives. The emotional and psychological wounds continue to haunt the Zamora family.

Unexpected knocks on the door send Mayah into states of extreme anxiety. The family has chosen to forgo Independence Day festivities to steer clear of the startling sounds of fireworks. Even a simple trip to watch the film “The Little Mermaid” necessitates the use of noise-canceling headphones for Mayah.

Data from the Gun Violence Archive reveals that since 2016, mass shootings have injured thousands of Americans, while gun violence has harmed tens of thousands more. Beyond staggering medical costs and the profound emotional distress, survivors and their families must navigate numerous other life-altering complications.

During interviews with The Big Big News, survivors from incidents in Uvalde, Las Vegas, Colorado Springs, and Highland Park, Illinois, discussed the lasting physical and psychological scars inflicted by such tragedies.

Mayah sustained injuries across her chest, back, hands, face, and ear, requiring numerous surgeries that her parents eventually lost count of. The family moved to San Antonio, where Mayah was hospitalized for 66 days and continues to need medical attention. Christina Zamora, Mayah’s mother, highlighted the astronomical medical expenses, approaching or exceeding $1,000,000, exclusive of rehabilitation, follow-up visits, and psychological counseling. As for insurance coverage, the family remains uncertain. Following Mayah’s discharge, it became evident that one parent needed to stay home to provide care, leading Christina to resign from her employment.

In Colorado Springs, Ashtin Gamblin was on duty at Club Q when a gunman opened fire, killing five and injuring 17, including herself. Gamblin was struck nine times and sustained severe injuries to both arms, accruing medical bills upwards of $300,000. She also felt compelled to move to a “safer” neighborhood, purchasing a home for $380,000 even though she was not financially prepared for such a move. Six months after the incident, Gamblin remains unable to return to work, plagued by a constant sense of vulnerability in public spaces.

According to 2023 statistics from the Gun Violence Archive, nearly 400 individuals in the U.S. have been injured in mass shootings, while 140 have lost their lives. The year is on course to exceed 2019, which holds the grim record for the most mass killings since 2006, as per a database maintained jointly by The Big Big News and USA Today, in association with Northeastern University.

In Las Vegas, Tia Christiansen, a long-time music industry professional, was spared physical injury during the 2017 mass shooting at a music festival she helped organize. However, the emotional toll was immense, leading her to a breakdown and significant changes in her lifestyle, including increased spending on comfort items and meal deliveries to avoid venturing outside.

Leah Sundheim’s life was shattered when she learned of her mother Jacquelyn’s death during a Fourth of July parade in Highland Park, Illinois, in 2022. The tragedy led her to relocate and be closer to her father, highlighting the variances in trauma experiences even among family members.

In summary, the repercussions of mass shootings extend far beyond the immediate event, leaving indelible scars on survivors and their families, disrupting lives in unimaginable ways.

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The reporting is contributed by a corps member of the Big Big News/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit service program that assigns journalists to local newsrooms to cover topics that are often underreported.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Mass Shooting Survivors

More about Mass Shooting Survivors

• Gun Violence Archive
• The Big Big News
• USA Today
• Northeastern University
• Report for America
• Everytown Survivors Network