was disoriented and in pain. Her purse and cellphone were missing, and she didn’t know where her family was. Her husband, Cesar, and daughter had been searching for her for about eight hours. They finally found her in the hospital, and Holguin was relieved to see them. She spent six days in the hospital and then returned home to recover. She still has the bullet in her leg, but she has accepted it as her “compa” — a close friend. “I call him my compa,” Holguin said. “He’s my companion. He’s there for me all the time.” Holguin is slowly healing, both physically and emotionally. She’s grateful for the support of her family and community, and she’s determined to move forward. “I have to be strong for my family,” she said. “I have to keep going. I can’t stop.” Coping with trauma Mireya Nelson was standing on a picnic table with her friends, watching the parade, when she heard gunshots. She felt a sharp pain in her jaw and fell to the ground. She was hit by a bullet that went through her jaw and broke her shoulder. Fragments of the bullet remain in her body. Mireya Nelson, 15, was hit by a bullet at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade. She has fragments of the bullet in her shoulder and jaw. She’ll have to live with them while doctors monitor her lead levels for at least two years. CHRISTOPHER SMITH FOR KFF HEALTH NEWS Nelson was rushed to the hospital, where she underwent surgery. She spent four days in the hospital and then returned home to recover. She still has pain in her shoulder and jaw, and she’ll have to live with the fragments of the bullet for now. Doctors are monitoring her lead levels in her blood for at least two years, as lead poisoning can be a serious concern with gunshot wounds. Nelson is trying to cope with the physical and emotional trauma of the shooting. She’s thankful to be alive and surrounded by her family and friends. “I’m just grateful that I’m still here,” Nelson said. “I’m grateful for the support of my family and friends. They’ve been there for me every step of the way.” Recovery is a long and difficult process for all three survivors of the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade shooting. They’re each dealing with their injuries in their own way, whether it’s wanting the bullet removed, accepting it as a companion, or living with the fragments and the uncertainty of lead poisoning. As gun violence continues to be a public health epidemic, the personal stories of these survivors shed light on the complexities of recovery and the gray areas in medical treatment when it comes to bullets left in the body.
