Category Archives: Uncategorized

Virginia Tech Shootings Kicked in my Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

Fifteen years ago April 16, 2007 my hometown blasted the world with the Virginia Tech shootings. Thirty-two years earlier my family suffered from gun shots in our home a couple miles from the massive killing at Virginia Tech. I’d been towing with the idea of working on the details of my mother’s murder. So whyContinueContinue reading “Virginia Tech Shootings Kicked in my Post Traumatic Stress Disorder”

William H. Brown “An Officer and a Gentleman”

Chief Willian H. Brown, Blacksburg PD (Retired) “Your book Healing from Gun Shots was special to me, because I was involved in the event from law enforcement perspective. The beginning was interesting as I read through the book, as there were a few things I did not know that were revealed to me in yourContinueContinue reading “William H. Brown “An Officer and a Gentleman””

Healing from Gunshots – The Book

Why I wrote this book and created this website “Since 1975 I’ve been healing from gunshot wounds and I wrote this book and created this website because I would like to be in touch with others struggling with the loss, the grief, the trauma and being a survivor of devastating violence. ” ~ Carol DreilingContinueContinue reading “Healing from Gunshots – The Book”

Children Helped Me Heal in Early Days and Onward    

Photo by Katherine Hanlon Children lightened my load in the early weeks of recovery following our family’s gun violence. Our next door neighbor lady Judy Sewell taught 2nd and 3rd graders at Harding Elementary in Blacksburg. I volunteered to teach creative movement as part of their PE curriculum. We’d experiment with different ways to moveContinueContinue reading “Children Helped Me Heal in Early Days and Onward    “

2 Painting our House with Aunt Liz

“Aunt Liz” It was the week after Christmas before New Year’s Eve–1975. That in between week. Around Christmas we kept busy with friends having us over to eat and to visit. This helped the emptiness. We went to church together. This consoled us. The community brought food. This nurtured us. It was a whirl ofContinueContinue reading “2 Painting our House with Aunt Liz”

5 Tools to Heal from Gunshot Wounds — What Tools Did I Use?

My Mamaw, my mother’s mother, taught me how to keep a journal My parents left me tools as gifts. When my Mother faced life’s pains, she worked it out by talking and crying if necessary. I found people I could process with. I conversed with friends and family and in support groups sponsored by HospiceContinueContinue reading “5 Tools to Heal from Gunshot Wounds — What Tools Did I Use?”