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Delaware survivor reflects on Las Vegas mass shooting anniversary

Megan O'Donnell Clements
Megan O'Donnell Clements surrounded by her family after escaping last year's mass shooting in Las Vegas.

Monday marks the one-year anniversary of the mass shooting in Las Vegas. One survivor from Delaware is reflecting on how it has transformed her life forever.

On Oct. 1, 2017, Wilmington resident Megan O’Donnell Clements was in Las Vegas enjoying the last night of a country music festival when a gunman opened fire. O’Donnell left Las Vegas with survivor’s guilt. She didn’t understand why she emerged unhurt while 59 others were killed and hundreds more were wounded.

But she believes surviving the shooting has made her a better person. She said she now realizes the number of people in her community and across the country suffering the effects of gun violence and other issues.

“I didn’t understand what people were dealing with and I think now that I have that ability to empathize, it goes a very long way into making me understand the world a little bit better,” she said.

O’Donnell said the anniversary is emotional for her. O’Donnell said she struggles with triggers like fireworks on July 4th or listening to the song that was playing when the shooting started. She and her friends recently went to New Jersey for a special concert for victims of the shooting.

“And the song that was playing when that was happening just has us both in tears," she said. "So, there’s definitely still triggers, but I wouldn’t say PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) so much just different sounds take you back to where you where that night.”

She’s also still trying to cope with not knowing why the killer opened fire on the concert goers. Officials haven’t been able to pin that down. O’Donnell said she started a blog, called The Loved Life, to help her cope with her feelings from the ordeal.

She adds the experience of surviving the Las Vegas mass shooting has motivated her to support and advocate for gun control.

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