Madison school shooting survivors share how they are healing with the community

 

MADISON, Wis. (CBS 58) -- After a painful and emotional week in Madison following the Abundant Life Christian School shooting, students and parents are sharing how they're healing.

"Theres too much suffering in this world," said Abundant Life Christian School parent, Tim Bergman.

The memorial outside Abundant Life Christian School serves as a reminder. Just five miles from the school, Mercies Coffee is providing families like the Bergmans a place to grieve.

"It was very like unreal," said Abi Bergman, a senior at Abundant Life Christian School. "It was just like so much shock, like no way this actually happens, and I went over to the chapel by myself and saw things happened and went in for my siblings right away."

Abi and three of her siblings were inside the school during the shooting.

"It hurts to know they are hurting and that they've seen things they can't unsee and will carry with them for the rest of their lives," said Mallory Orr, the owner of Mercies Coffee.

Orr is providing what she can, free coffee and a private space for staff, students and families, so they can have a safe space to work through their emotions.

"Healing from trauma is a process, there is so much more that comes after the immediate incident and this is my way of being there," said Orr.

The coffee shop has always been a comforting place for the Bergman family and now it's a space they can lean on.

"Everybody knows what happened, everybody feels pain, like everybody is sad for us," said Jason Bergman, a third grader at Abundant Life Christian School. "We don't have to be alone in this."

The community's support and compassion allowing them to move forward and see the light through the dark times.

"The kindness is the exact opposite of what the school shooter wanted and what she did," said Tim Bergman. "The kindness that people are showing us is the exact opposite. It shows the world isn't all bad, there's a lot of good in it and a lot of good people."

According to UW-Health, two patients that are in critical condition from the shooting are stable at this time.