Ben Kadish, 25, is looking for ways to reach out to victims in El Paso, Texas, and Dayton, Ohio, but is visably emotional when asked about it. During a morning news conference outside of the emergency room at Providence Holy Cross Hospital he said he just didn’t know why it was still happening.
It’s difficult to understand what kind of hate motivates someone to shoot to kill– to deliberately set out to take the life of a another human being.
Kadish was only 5 years old when he was critically injured in a mass shooting Aug. 10, 1999, by a white supremacist at the North Valley Jewish Community Center’s summer day camp. He had no pulse, no blood pressure. It was touch-and-go for the young boy. He was whisked by ambulance to Providence Holy Cross Medical Center for life-saving care by the trauma team. After more than six hours of surgery, he was stabilized and later transferred to Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
He returned to Holy Cross Hospital this week to meet Cathy Carter, a trauma nurse, who remembers the fight to save the little boy’s life. They exchanged a big hug. He visited the trauma room and offered hope to other patients.
He still remembers the challenges not only of his physical recovery but still today deals with the emotional aftermath of surviving a mass shooting. Each time he hears of another mass shooting – it’s difficult . Last year, he reached out to victims of the Borderline Bar & Grill shooting in Thousand Oaks and provided support that comes only from someone who’s been there and can truly say, they understand.
Holy Cross hospital personnel spoke of the increased need for facilities that can readily respond to a medical crisis 24 hours of the day whether they be victims of accidents, violence or natural disasters.
Hospitals conduct realistic drills to manage all types of disasters including the unthinkable mass shootings that are plaguing our country today.