“On December 26th, at 9:30 a.m., our world was rocked. You never think it could happen to you until the heartbreaking reality is staring right at you. Emotions are hard to grasp and comprehend at this time – anger, sadness, confusion, fear, relief, thankful… While traveling back home from NY to NC, Wade and I stopped at our halfway point in Winchester, VA. This rest stop was busy with families traveling South. We noticed an argument from afar between a man and woman in the parking lot. Wade and I stood in the grass with Maisel, stretching our legs as we kept an eye on the situation. Next thing we know, us and several others are sprinting across the parking lot to help this distressed woman who was taken to the ground and getting beaten by the angry man. Wade and the gentlemen were trying to calm the man down and what seemed like a controlled situation turned into our horror. The memory of seeing my husband running for his life as the man turned to shoot, the chaos of taking cover, and fighting to find and seeing Wade will forever be with me and him. Wade sustained a comminuted fracture to his right cheek and sinus cavity and paralysis of a facial nerve due to a gunshot wound. Bullet went behind his ear and through his cheek. We are thankful for the hearts of the bystanders who helped and prayed over us in that moment, first responders, and the medical staff at Winchester Medical Center. Wade had many angels watching after him. In true Wade fashion, he is making his jokes, spreading his positivity and love to everyone, and was cheering on the Buffalo Bills soon after. Two other men and the woman in the dispute were shot, but are all well. The shooter was chased down and shot himself in his car once caught. I’d like to thank all the strangers for their love, prayer, and support they have shown us over the past few days! Hug your loved ones a little tighter and believe in the good of others a little more. We are headed back to Charlotte this morning to begin our healing physically and emotionally. ‘I love you’ has never meant more and we’re so blessed we get to keep saying it and proving it to one another.”
Credit: Lauren Davenport
