MSU mass shooting survivor recounts night of shooting, days of recovery on Facebook
Krystal NurseLANSING — Shooting survivor Guadalupe Huapilla-Perez shared on Facebook her experiences from the night of Michigan State University's on-campus shooting, expressing gratefulness to those who supported her through a month of hospitalization.
Huapilla-Perez wrote on Thursday the mass shooting made her experience one of her worst fears, a school shooting.
"I not only experienced it that night, but am a living reminder of it every day since," she wrote.
Her memory of that night isn't clear, she said. However, she distinctly remembers calling her mom fearing it would be the last time they'd speak.
"I don't remember exactly when I got shot but I remember a classmate holding their shirt to my abdomen area," Huapilla-Perez wrote. "I can't remember the pain of my wounds but I can remember the pain I felt in my heart seeing this horrible tragedy unfold before me."
More:Fourth MSU student wounded in shooting discharged from Sparrow Hospital
Her sister Selena created a Gofundme for Huapilla-Perez, that raised over $400,000. The MSU junior enrolled in the university's College Assistance Migrant Program studying hospitality business suffered injuries on Feb. 13 after a man shot and killed Arielle Anderson, Brian Fraser and Alexandria Verner and then critically injured five others, including Huapilla-Perez.
One student remains in the hospital in critical condition, according to a Wednesday update.
Doctors discharged Huapilla-Perez on March 13, exactly a month after the mass shooting. She is in need of some surgeries to mend wounds, which she predicted would make her relive the pain of Feb. 13 again. Recovery has been easier around family.
"It is a vulnerable thing to admit, but recovery has been very hard," she wrote. "There are layers of my recovery I have to face every day. Mentally, Emotionally, and Physically. But my recovery has felt safer having my family by my side."
She thanked everyone for the support she and her family has received since the on-campus mass shooting and the Sparrow doctors and nurses whom she said saved her life and helped her heal.
"I never imagined being in this position but it is humbling," Huapilla-Perez continued. "To experience your love, prayers, and support is unlike anything else. The small and big acts have all held equal weight in my heart.
"Your support means my family can be by my side during this incredibly vulnerable and traumatizing time in my life. And I will never finish finding the words to thank you all."
More:Troy Forbush, MSU shooting survivor, shares story for first time
Huapilla-Perez is recovering in East Lansing, she said, after family and doctors ruled against her traveling home to Florida.
She added seeing her other peers recover from their injuries has inspired her own recovery. She wants to one day join her peers in pushing for change around gun violence in schools and said "no one should ever have to live through this."
"A day doesn't go by that I don't mourn the loss of Arielle, Alexandria, and Brian," Huapilla-Perez wrote. "I didn't know them closely but it is a painful feeling to live with knowing I shared their last moments with them. Descansen en Paz (Rest in peace)."
Support local journalism and get unlimited digital access! Subscribe for only $1 for three months!
Contact reporter Krystal Nurse at 517-267-1344 or knurse@lsj.com. Follow her on Twitter @KrystalRNurse.