How do you help a friend who has been the victim of a violent crime?
By click50
@click50 (68)
United States
July 20, 2008 7:04pm CST
My best friend was stabbed 24 times by someone she knew. This was back in May. It aired over a local TV station during the Crime Stopper spot but I didn't see it. I acutally didn't find out about it until yesterday.
I felt so bad that I had been unaware of what she was going through. I feel guilty that I haven't been there from the start. She always has been for me.
She lost the use of one of her vocal chords and the other is injured. She was blessed with a beautiful voice and now she may never be able to sing again.
She asked for prayers and I sent her name up over all the prayer chains that I know and then I went over to her house to pray with her. I have offered to sit in the gallery while she was testifying to give her support and pray for the right outcome.
Despite the prayers I wish I could do more. I regret that I do not watch the news and hope she understands.
Any suggestions?
4 responses
@blackmantra_x (2732)
• Philippines
21 Jul 08
good day.. what's more important is your with her right now and stick with her until the end of her ordeal. She knows that it wasn't intentional for missing it out on the news, even best of friends have their own lives to manage and personal problems to solve.
@click50 (68)
• United States
21 Jul 08
Thank you for your comments. I know that she understands. It is just me. It is hard to think that I have let some one I care about down. But, I believe that all things happen for a reason. You really can't change the past. So I will do my best to support her now.
Thank you again for your incite
@rsa101 (37969)
• Philippines
21 Jul 08
Oh that is really bad being stab 24 times. Good thing she survived it to tell who the perpetrator is. I hope the suspect was already caught already. I think you have already done your part being a good friend that you are. I know your friend will understand that as you have no control over the situation. Just stay with her until she fully has recovered and I think she'll appreciate it very much already.
1 person likes this
@jonesy123 (3948)
• United States
21 Jul 08
I think your friend understands the situation. You are there for her now. That's what's important. If she would resent you for not having been there earlier, you would know it by now. Just keep doing what you have been doing, be supportive, give her a shoulder to cry on, and just be there for her, especially, if she needs somebody to talk to about all of what is going through her mind. What a horrible thing that happened to her. She may never quite get over it, physically, psychologically, and emotionally. She'll need somebody to depend on. It's often that crime victims lose long-time friends later on because their character changes, they are more fearful, less trusting. And they may keep talking about the aftermath. People don't want to be constantly reminded of what happened and just look at the joyful side of life. That's not easy for a crime victim to return to. And therefore, they often slowly lose a lot of their friends. Please don't be one of those friends. Be a true one that stays by her and is understanding. My prayers will be with your friend and with you.
1 person likes this
@click50 (68)
• United States
21 Jul 08
Thank you for your comments and your prayers. My friend and I have been through a lot together. She has been divorced twice and I had been in an abusive relationship. She has shown unlimited patience with me when I was still in the relationship complainig about it and then in the next breath saying how much I loved the guy. I believe that I can sit and here her talk about this for as long as she needs.
