There are times when people are shot and thankfully, they survive. But this path can be just as devastating to a family as someone who doesn’t make it.
Some of the victims feel like they should have not survived, which is called survivor’s remorse, and will try to commit suicide. They often feel like they are all alone and have no one to talk to who understands and feel as though the city and its people have forgotten about them.
Semaj O’Branty was only 10 years old when he was shot in the back of his head on November 6, 2019 as he walked home from his after-school program. Semaj was caught in crossfire in Kensington.
Just imagine walking home from school and you hear gunshots, fall to the ground and wake up in the hospital not knowing what’s going on. Imagine as a parent you receive a call that your 10-year-old was shot and to rush to get there and you arrive not knowing what happened, who did this or why. This is true for Anita Williams and her family as they try to live life as a “normal” family without any answers as of today.
Semaj is now 14 years old trying to regain back everything that was stolen from him that afternoon.
“These last couple of years has not been easy for my family,” states Anita Williams. “We as a family had to rebuild, regain and learn to feel safe again. We had to relocate with no assistance from the city of Philadelphia. It’s like they have forgotten all about us. No Victim Services has followed up, no detectives have followed up, we are just forgotten about.”
Semaj had to undergo surgeries, relearn how to walk, talk and continue to be a child all at the same time. He returned to school but it wasn’t easy. He felt uncomfortable at first but now looks forward to going to school and seeing his peers each day. Semaj and I had a brief conversation and he smiled talking about the girl he likes in school, but you can really get a good conversation as he talks about his favorite basketball team, the Bulls, and let’s not forget about his love for his video game he plays.
Semaj doesn’t like to play outside too often because of the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, but will go outside every now and then. He has developed PTSD after the shooting and just began sleeping upstairs in his room at times since they moved to their new home.
When I met Semaj, I was excited to meet him. I told him how proud of him I am. I found myself staring at him because I couldn’t believe he was right in front of me, a walking miracle who was told he would never walk again, and look at him now. He and his sister always had a close relationship and their closeness hasn’t skipped a beat.
His mother said they really didn’t talk about what happened to him because of the pain they endured as a family. The other day she asked Semaj, did you hear me when I was talking to you. He said yes I heard you talking about my favorite team. Anita said it took her by surprise by his answer.
To hear more about Semaj story please watch him on a documentary called “They Don’t Care About Us, or Do They?” You will see interacting and talking about his life with the producer Oronde McClain another Gun Shot Survivor.
If you are a Gun Shot Survivor and need assistance contact 211, option 3 for Resources, CARES Philadelphia at 215-686-8019, Up The Block Resources for those Affected by Gun Violence at www.uptheblock.org/en/, Black Men Heal Gun Violence Therapy Group 12-25 years old at https://blackmenheal.org/gun-violence-group-therapy/ or Liberty Resources for adaptive equipment at 215-634-2000.
Kimberly Kamara is the author of “Where’s My Daddy,” a children’s book aimed at kids who’ve lost a parent to murder. The book was inspired by her family’s continuing journey of grief after her son, Niam Johnson-Tate, lost his life to gun violence on July 5, 2017. Kimberly has two daughters and lives in Germantown with her husband.
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