July 13 started off with an opportunity to escape to a wildlife adventure with a friend. We went to a restaurant/bar afterward where the TVs were filled with sports.
A man two barstools down received a text about an assassination attempt on Donald Trump. I could hear bits and pieces as he was alerting the bartender to put on the news. We really couldn’t hear a word, as it was loud as hell. We could only see the continuous looping of Trump bleeding, the Secret Service surrounding him, then he’s on the ground, and serious looks from the anchors as they spoke.
Everyone was stunned, including my friend who doesn’t even like Trump. It was a sick feeling and there was a need to get home. It was Saturday and “Father Brown” (an escape to 1950s England with lush landscape) would be on at 7:00 on PBS. Well, no it wasn’t. All networks on my limited Xfinity stopped their regular programming for this historical event. It was surprising that Trump was getting positive attention by the mainstream media.
Remembering the Victims
Corey Comperatore, 50, of Sarver, PA was killed by a single gunshot wound to the head. He was a 10-year veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve and former chief and active member of the Buffalo Volunteer Fire Department. He was married with two daughters, Allyson and Kaylee; and two beloved Dobermans, Ivan and Negan.
Comperatore died shielding his family from gunfire. His obituary read in part “His courage was not the loud, boisterous kind; it was the courage of quiet resilience, the strength to be vulnerable, and the bravery to lead with love.” 125 trees have been planted in Comperatore’s honor.
David Dutch, 57, was standing in the bleachers behind the stage where Trump was speaking when he was shot twice — once in the chest and once in the liver. He arrived at the hospital in critical condition and was placed in a medically induced coma. He underwent multiple surgeries and was discharged 11 days after the shooting.
James Copenhaver, 74, was hospitalized with gunshot wounds to his arm and abdomen. He was released 15 days after the shooting and has a long road to recovery, according to the New York Post.
Photo by Aysun Kahraman Oktem/Pixabay
Days After the Shootings
Just two days later, July 15, the Republican National Convention started. Although not physically there, the atmosphere seemed surreal. It was comforting to many, as the presidential nominee literally dodged a bullet. Late in the first evening, the crowd roared in applause as Trump made an appearance and sat in the audience, as no one was expecting it.
As the week went on, Trump’s daughter-n-law, Lara, spoke of how her kids, Luke, 6, and Carolina, 4, were watching their grandfather speaking on TV. Suddenly, as he was shot, bleeding, and went down, Lara grabbed the remote to change the channel. Hopefully, they were too young to be affected negatively.
There was criticism from some moderators about Donald Trump, Jr. and Gov. Ron DeSantis’s fiery speeches. Moderators spoke of expected unity after the assassination attempt but said they “served red meat.” In Trump, Jr.’s case, he knew how close his father came to death. In DeSantis’s case, he may have thought it could have been him. We all process such ordeals differently.
I wondered if Trump would be able to actually deliver a speech, and he did so in a riveting manner. One of the first things he said was, “I’m not supposed to be here.” Someone yelled, “Yes you are!” Suddenly the crowd broke into a chant, “YES YOU ARE! YES YOU ARE!” I also wondered whether he had flashbacks, was on anti-anxiety meds, or would need treatment for PTSD.
Reality Sets In
Comperatore’s wife, Helen, was close to celebrating her 29th wedding anniversary with her childhood sweetheart but planned his funeral instead. She and her daughters have to go forward without him after witnessing his murder.
Both Dutch and Copenhaver have hired attorneys to “protect their best interests as they navigate the most challenging time of their lives,” added the New York Post.
For several weeks afterward, I felt very unsettled with disturbing sleep. Even going for a walk, I didn’t feel safe. I don’t mean safe, as in afraid of the neighborhood. It was a general sense of not feeling safe in the WORLD. The last time I felt this way was after September 11, 2001. In neither incident, I wasn’t even there nor did I see it in real time.
I contacted a friend who is a healthcare professional and told her something was wrong, explaining further symptoms. She reassured me that my feelings are more normal than I realized and some of us take longer than others to mend, as we discussed possible remedies. Writing has always been therapeutic, hence this article, and research revealed my friend was right.
Dealing with Trauma
A wealth of information is available online for immediate reassurance including NBC San Diego News who spoke with Shelby Espiritu, a licensed therapist at Sharp Mesa Vista Hospital in San Diego, CA.
“Feeling safe matters, and when a presidential candidate is attacked, that can shatter everyone’s sense of safety and can be overwhelming. Managing trauma may entail limiting your exposure to whatever is causing anxiety.” She recommends talking to people you trust about your feelings or, conversely, choosing not to talk about it at all to ‘recharge’ your emotional well-being.
Espiritu explained that each of us has a different threshold for the amount of trauma we can deal with. “Some people are heavily impacted emotionally while some others aren’t impacted at all.” She emphasized how we get information so fast through the internet, “it’s not creating a safe space for us.”
During stressful times, it’s especially important to maintain a regular routine and engage in self-care, according to Dr. Zachary Ginder, a psychologist and founder of Pine Siskin Consulting in Riverside, California. This includes regular sleep routines, a healthy diet, exercise, prayer or meditation, and engaging in hobbies, as interviewed by Fox News.
Turning despair into positive action, such as volunteering or supporting organizations that align with your values or shared interests can help restore a sense of purpose and control, Ginder suggested. “While it is perfectly normal to be affected by societal trauma, if the impact begins to affect daily functioning, relationships or mental health, it is ‘highly advisable’ to seek professional help from a licensed clinician,” Ginder said.
Lastly, Trump was correct in his RNC speech that there could have been many more killed had they panicked and ran.
Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center expressed his admiration for Trump’s reaction as the crowd kept its composure. “His courage, strength, good humor and caring for others are traits of a leader, as was his alacrity in hitting the ground and bouncing back up,” he told Fox News. “His positive reaction and courage instead of fear bodes well for quick psychological recovery without PTSD.”
Hopefully, everyone affected will recover and we can go forward without further violence.
Personally, I’ll never forget the moment it happened. I was sitting alone watching Donald begin his speech when the shots rang out. It happened so fast, within seconds, it was surreal, like watching a play. People started to duck for cover but they stayed in place. I leaned forward on the couch, then stood up wondering if this was real, while the announcer became quiet trying to piece together what happened.
Donald grabbed his right ear and hit the deck. There were several shots after he went down and I never knew about them until this article. So, thank you for that.
Donald just happened to turn his head at the precise moment the killer pulled the trigger. The turn saved his life. I have to think the turn of his head was God’s work. It has to be so. The turn of the head was not in Donald’s script. He just did it.
The poor people who were shot just happened to be in the wrong place at that moment in time. Rest In Peace for Corey. A hero of the first order. The others will live but they are scarred for life at several levels.
The pictures were lovely and perfectly placed throughout the article. Warm, beautiful, and sensitive. They each had powerful meaning as a picture speaks a thousand words.
Hopefully, this article will review the feelings that we all shared that day and during the convention. It was a time for wonderful unity. We can have that feeling again.
We owe it to ourselves to remember how brave and strong Donald was as he stood right up and pumped his fist saying “fight fight fight.” He didn’t slink over to the waiting car to be taken away. He gave courage and strength to us all. He proved that he is a leader that we can count on to get us out of this weak and depressed state that we are in as a nation. We should all keep this article and read it often.
Oh! Excellent that you saw it in real time and can describe it personally. Well, at least to share. Something you certainly won’t forget. Yeah, I’ve seen several videos of folks in the audience talking about their experience. Plus, the people who treated Corey at the scene but knew he was already gone. The doctor was crying and a helper was shaken. So glad you liked the photos! The first one looks just like what you’d see on Father Brown. I’m amazed that Donald is able to just carry on. He has a lot of support, plus his age and all he’s been through. Thank you for your support.