The life of a Virginia teacher who was shot and wounded by her 6-year-old student was changed, as she has vivid memories and nightmares about that day, reports the Associated Press. “I just will never forget the look on his face that he gave me while he pointed the gun directly at me,” first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner told NBC's Today Show about the student. “It’s changed me. It’s changed my life.” She said she’s still in shock and can’t make sense of it. “I’m not sure when the shock will ever go away because of just how surreal it was and the vivid memories I have of that day. I think about it daily. Sometimes I have nightmares,” Zwerner said.
Speaking publicly for the first time since the Jan. 6 shooting, Zwerner said that she’s had a challenging recovery, including four surgeries. On some days, she “can’t get up out of bed,” while on others she is able to go about her day and make it to appointments. “For going through what I’ve gone through, I try to stay positive. You know, try to have a positive outlook on what’s happened and where my future’s heading,” Zwerner said. Zwerner was hospitalized for nearly two weeks after being shot in the chest and left hand as she taught her class at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News, Va. The shooting sent shock waves around the country, with many wondering how a young child could gain access to a gun.