Reach Out & Get the Help You Need, Don’t Try to Fight this Battle Alone - By Breanna Puckett-Woods

May 9, 2023, started as a normal day. My husband Lafay and I got up and got the kids up and ready for the day. The sun was shining, the weather was nice; what seemed like a perfect day ended in the worst way. My kids are Brielle (10), Londyn (2), and Lafayette Jr. (11 months). They admire their father because he was just that—a full-time active father. He got them dressed, took them to school, took them to doctor’s appointments, cooked, and cleaned. He was the perfect father and husband in that respect.

“One sec, one shot” is how the incident was described during the trial. On May 10, 2023, shortly after midnight, my husband passed away from gun violence, leaving his children and me a life full of hurt, anger, fear, confusion, discomfort, unbalance, and lack of peace. These are just a few words to describe our current, daily mental state.

I have always had a passion for Mental Health. While working in the Mental Health field, my motto was “I’m one mental breakdown away from being in the same situation as the clients I serve.” Never in a million years would I have ever imagined our lives being this way today. Brielle is now 11, and Londyn is 3. They are both getting counseling. It seems to be helping them to be able to talk about their feelings and thoughts in a safe place. I am getting spiritual counseling but do plan to seek Mental Health counseling soon. Talking to family and friends does help, but seeking professional help is best because they have the skills to be able to assist you in the best way possible, while helping you understand your thoughts and feelings and appropriate ways to cope and deal with them.

I’m sharing my story to hopefully encourage someone that may be experiencing the same or similar situation to reach out and get help. Grief is a process that my children and I are still trying to learn through almost a year later. So again, reach out and get the help you need, don’t try to fight this battle alone. Thank you for reading my story.

The services my family needs most is counseling for children.