Girl Shot In Face Gives Back To Hospital That Saved Her Life

OAK FOREST, IL — A 10-year-old Oak Forest girl is hoping to spread a message and give back after a tragic incident that changed her life when she was just seven.

On July 7, 2018, Camryn Cox was shot in the face by her cousin while playing in a bedroom during a birthday party in Monee. The bullet struck her jaw, causing extensive damage to her tongue, vertebrae and main artery in her neck. Unsure if she would survive, doctors told her mother, Raeann Cox, that the Fierke Education Center student could fully recover, but it would take a journey to get there.

Several children were present at the party. Although she wasn’t there, Raeann told Patch one child took the gun out of the closet to show Camryn. When she asked if it was real, the child pointed it at her and fired a round, according to her mother.

Camryn was airlifted to the University of Chicago Comer Children's Hospital, where she stayed for 27 days, enduring multiple surgeries.

Raeann did not leave her daughter's side in the hospital since driving in from out of town the day of the incident. She told Patch that Camryn was with her father’s family, celebrating a birthday, and that when she was called, she was initially told that Camryn had been shot with a BB gun.

Three years have gone by since the shooting. The owner of the gun was charged with unlawful storage of a firearm, but not child endangerment, according to Raeann. The gun owner spent one and a half days in jail.

While this tragedy may have changed her life, Camyrn told her mother she wants to give back to the hospital that saved her. Every year, the now 10-year-old and her mother give back to Comer's "for all that they have done" by hosting a "Christmas in July" donation campaign.

In the past, the pair donated DVDs and movie players to the hospital. This year, an Amazon Wish List of supplies such as diverse dolls and Play-Doh sets were collected, totaling to 600 donations for the hospital, according to Raeann.

“She really wanted to give back to the other kids in the hospital, and help them out, because she struggled for so long,” Raeann said. “When people sent her gifts and cards, it really lifted her spirits, because she really couldn't do much for the first year. This is her way of showing she is thankful.”

Raeann continued to say that she and her sister would like to launch a non-profit in Camryn’s name to conduct more donation drives for other children’s hospitals. On Wednesday, the three-year anniversary, Raeann is hosting her annual “survivor party” for Camryn with loved ones.

“She looks at herself as a survivor, and we want her to see herself as a survivor,” Raeann said. “She wants to share her story as much as possible to save other children's lives, which I think is amazing. She has said that since she was seven. She wants to do that so other people can hear her story, and we can possibly save another child's life.”

As for being a mother of a survivor, Raeann told Patch she is constantly stressing the importance of being a responsible gun owner and locking up guns when necessary.

“I always voice to anybody who will listen to lock up your guns and ask the questions. Always ask,” Raeann said. “It doesn't matter where you're going. Friends, family or anywhere. Always ask ‘do you have guns and are they locked up?’ and ‘who has access to the guns?’ because I never, ever, would have thought this would have happened. Answering those questions could prevent something like this from happening.”

The 600 donations going to Comer’s will be delivered on Thursday, but Raeann said if more people wish to donate, another trip to the hospital will be made to deliver. See the Amazon Wish List and learn more here.