A year later, young victim of school shooting still recovering
SEATTLE -- One year ago on Friday, a 9-year-old boy brought a loaded gun to school in his backpack, reportedly to protect himself from bullies.
The gun went off in his backpack, hitting third grader Amina Bowman and changing her life forever.
Amina was a very quiet little girl, even before the accident. Today, she's more timid and she's lost a lot of her confidence. But she's alive, back in school and getting better all the time.
A year can seem like a blip in time, a blink of an eye. But for the Bowman family, the last 12 months must have seemed like and eternity.
"She's fine physically, but mentally she still has a ways to go," said Amina's mom, Teri Bowman.
Amina's dad, John, will never forget the day his daughter nearly died. He remembers something Teri told tAmina that day during the airlift to Harborview Medical Center.
"She actually told Amina, 'You can't, you can't quit because Bowmans' don't quit,'" he said.
She didn't quit, not even after five surgeries where doctors removed her gallbladder, part of her small intestine and a major vein.
"I tell her I love her and I say, 'I'm glad you're here, I'm glad you stayed,' and I don't think she realizes how close she was to not being here with us," John said.
Amina's parents say since the shooting she gets fatigued easily, is hesitant to go outside and play and is afraid to sleep alone.
The family is suing the Bremerton School District for $10 million.
"The big goal, and the family's goal, is to push the school systems to provide a safe place that our children can go to elementary school," said attorney Jeffrey Campiche.
On Thursday, charges were dismissed against the boy who brought the gun to school. The Bowman's are also suing the boy's family.
Amina is now 10-years old, and she has scars -- mentally and physically. She recently told her mom she likes scars on her body because they make her different.
"The physical injuries may heal, but the emotional trauma that she went through is kind of something that will take time," John said.
Amina has time. She has a whole life full of it to look forward to. Maybe the next year will be like a blink of an eye.
The Bowman family said their lives still aren't back to normal. There are still a lot of doctor's appointments and Amina sees a psychologist every weeks. But they say the support they've received has been amazing and they feel like they're on the right path.
The gun went off in his backpack, hitting third grader Amina Bowman and changing her life forever.
Amina was a very quiet little girl, even before the accident. Today, she's more timid and she's lost a lot of her confidence. But she's alive, back in school and getting better all the time.
A year can seem like a blip in time, a blink of an eye. But for the Bowman family, the last 12 months must have seemed like and eternity.
"She's fine physically, but mentally she still has a ways to go," said Amina's mom, Teri Bowman.
Amina's dad, John, will never forget the day his daughter nearly died. He remembers something Teri told tAmina that day during the airlift to Harborview Medical Center.
"She actually told Amina, 'You can't, you can't quit because Bowmans' don't quit,'" he said.
She didn't quit, not even after five surgeries where doctors removed her gallbladder, part of her small intestine and a major vein.
"I tell her I love her and I say, 'I'm glad you're here, I'm glad you stayed,' and I don't think she realizes how close she was to not being here with us," John said.
Amina's parents say since the shooting she gets fatigued easily, is hesitant to go outside and play and is afraid to sleep alone.
The family is suing the Bremerton School District for $10 million.
"The big goal, and the family's goal, is to push the school systems to provide a safe place that our children can go to elementary school," said attorney Jeffrey Campiche.
On Thursday, charges were dismissed against the boy who brought the gun to school. The Bowman's are also suing the boy's family.
Amina is now 10-years old, and she has scars -- mentally and physically. She recently told her mom she likes scars on her body because they make her different.
"The physical injuries may heal, but the emotional trauma that she went through is kind of something that will take time," John said.
Amina has time. She has a whole life full of it to look forward to. Maybe the next year will be like a blink of an eye.
The Bowman family said their lives still aren't back to normal. There are still a lot of doctor's appointments and Amina sees a psychologist every weeks. But they say the support they've received has been amazing and they feel like they're on the right path.
RE: KH Another issue that people seem to be forgetting is that the boy was being bullied. The gun was to protect himself. The schools try to monitor and try to keep the bullying from happening but this can also go on off the school grounds. Gun control is not the real issue. What is the issue is what is bringing kids to feel the need to bring a gun to school to protect themselves from being bullied by other kids. Bullying has gone on for ages but now it seems like at some schools, it does get out of hand causing unforeseen tragedies.Â
Gun Control is not the issue here either. As Burton stated, there are far more guns out there that are not the problem. It is the few people who illegally have guns that are the problem.  By sueing the school district and the boys family is not going to solve anything. other than to drag all that happened through the 'mud' again causing more mental anguish to Amina.
@jc The boy's mother pled guilty to illegal firearm possession as she had prior drug convictions. I have no issues with the victim's family suing her and her boyfriend who provided the 3 loaded guns that were placed around the house. Who lives like that? Drug users.
Really KOMO, Is this new worthy? Or just promoting your view on gun control. Teach the kids about the safety and danger of firearms. Or just give them condoms and birth control pills and everything will work out.
Aww, sweet kid.Â
If you see this Amina, stay strong sweetie! You've got lots of fans, in addition to your impressive battle scars. If you need to talk, just reach out to someone who loves you - people want to help, so be sure to let them.
Not everyone can say they withstood a bullet and then bounced back to lead an amazing life! You're one tough cookie.
How can stuff like this happen and we cannot agree that this country has a gun problem and a gun culture problem.Â
@KH What we had here was a parenting/drug problem. 3 loaded guns, in a house where a convicted drug felon was living, breaking the law. They were convicted. For the drug users, guns are just a required accessory, so they can shoot at each other over drug deals gone bad, or rip each other off. Yet we just legalized pot. Way to go WA! If people are really interested in solving the gun violence problem, go see how many are drug related....
@KHÂ
The estimated total number of guns held by civilians in the United States is 270,000,000.
Average firearm-related deaths is around 30,000 (+ or - 2,000 or so) - which includes pointless stats like suicide, self-defense, and justifiable use of force by police.
.0001% of all guns being used to murder is not a problem.
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@KH Are you forgetting the boy's guardian was BANNED from possessing guns showing once again criminals ignore gun laws, or are you being intentionally deceptive?
@KHOh there's a gun problem alright, the problem is that we are glamorizing firearms in music, movies, media, games, etc., but teaching children to be deathly afraid of them in real life. This has led to literal insanity when it comes to firearms, just look at the Columbine kids.Â
The way to fix this is firearm education for all children in public school, just like sex education.Â