Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

irisblue

(32,982 posts)
Mon Mar 12, 2018, 10:23 PM Mar 2018

This is an important read (x posted) by our friend lostnfound

The Excruciating Journey of a Las Vegas Massacre Survivor. WORTH a read.
This should be required reading before any conversations about gun control. Thank you, Washington Post, for doing this story. Let’s see more of the consequences, over months and years of recoveriy, so we can have an informed public discourse. Insurance companies: how about giving us a total of what you paid out for shooting victims from Las Vegas — and how much you denied. Let’s stop hiding the FACTS.

The terrible injustice that people are put through this kind of hell, just so guns are easily accessible to mostly anyone, is so tragic and without comparison. EIGHT surgeries. Several major organs.

Who pays for this? The misery, the loss of FREEDOM, the PAIN, and the medical costs. The husband has spent almost six months by her side at the hospital. Her 89-year old mother is watching her go through this. The whole family is losing precious time and happiness and freedom from THEIR lives. For WHAT?

Dear God, I hope this woman heals soon.
The Washington Post: After the Las Vegas shooting massacre, survival can be excruciating
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/after-the-las-vegas-shooting-massacre-survival-can-be-excruciating/2018/03/10/23fd3998-23aa-11e8-badd-7c9f29a55815_story.html

LAS VEGAS — On Rosemarie Melanson’s 153rd night in the hospital, she starts to vomit and can’t stop. She pulls her knees to her chest, closes her eyes and coughs bits of strawberry banana smoothie into a plastic bin her husband, Steve, holds for her.
Stephanie, their eldest daughter, stands beside the bed, her gaze fixed on the wall. She’d brought the smoothie for Rosemarie, thinking it would be a treat. But her mother has been unable to keep down food since she was shot in the upper body at a country music festival on the Las Vegas Strip more than five months ago.

When the heaving subsides, Stephanie offers a whisper: “I’m sorry mom.”
“No,” Rosemarie replies. “You don’t have to be sorry. My stomach does that sometimes.”


Tears glisten on Stephanie’s cheeks. Steve catches her eye from across the bed and mouths, “It’s okay.”


But it isn’t okay, Stephanie says later. None of them have been okay since Oct. 1, when the family was caught in the crosshairs of the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. Rosemarie, 54, has been hospitalized for all but two days since — her excruciating recovery a testament to the all-consuming devastation a single high-velocity bullet can cause.

10 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

gratuitous

(82,849 posts)
1. Then they heard Trump scolding the GOP for being afraid of the NRA
Mon Mar 12, 2018, 10:25 PM
Mar 2018

Then they got to hear Trump backtrack on everything he'd just said and turtle worse than Marco Rubio.

Upthevibe

(8,053 posts)
3. Does anyone know how I can access this article?
Tue Mar 13, 2018, 12:54 AM
Mar 2018

It's Washington Post and I don't have a subscription...Thanks...

mia

(8,361 posts)
6. Search: The Washington Post: After the Las Vegas shooting massacre, survival can be excruciating
Tue Mar 13, 2018, 01:21 AM
Mar 2018

In an incognito window.

PoiBoy

(1,542 posts)
8. And as of right now, Rosemarie won't be getting any money...
Tue Mar 13, 2018, 03:32 AM
Mar 2018
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2018/03/12/las-vegas-fund-begins-payouts-to-shooting-victims-but-one-long-hospitalized-survivor-isnt-among-them/?utm_term=.e070d0213424

But when the Las Vegas Victims’ Fund began distributing payments last week, Melanson’s husband Steve was alarmed to find Rosemarie wouldn’t receive anything. Overwhelmed and exhausted from months spent by his wife’s hospital bed, Steve Melanson had missed the Jan. 31 deadline to file a claim.



A pretty good breakdown and comparison of victim compensation funds and disbursements here...
https://www.reviewjournal.com/crime/shootings/las-vegas-victims-fund-to-distribute-31-4m-to-victims-in-march/


And I think the autopsy reports should be required reading before any discussion on gun control...
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/las-vegas-autopsies_us_5a8233cde4b01467fcf08af6

There are no words.. such a damn tragedy...







Cha

(297,323 posts)
9. Mahalo for shining a Light on it, irisblue..
Tue Mar 13, 2018, 03:44 AM
Mar 2018

This can't be forgotten because it happened last year.

It's so unbearably sad. I had a 5 month news blackout from July to December, so I just found out about it about a month ago.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»This is an important read...