A student who survived the Parkland shooting in Florida has killed herself, according to reports on March 22.
Her mother, Cara, said the 19-year-old was a vibrant teenager who focused on getting good grades, but added that she carried around the horrific memories of the Parkland shooting that left 17 people dead in February 2019.
The young woman was recently diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to her mother, who said she was having difficulty attending college classes because she had a fear of being in a classroom.
Cara said before she took her own life, she had never asked anyone else for help.
Now, the grieving mother said she hopes that her daughter’s suicide can serve as a reminder to others that they can get the help that they need, according to CBS Miami.
“It breaks my heart that we’ve lost yet another student from Stoneman Douglas,” Ryan Petty, who is the father of Parkland shooting victim Alaina Perry, told the CBS affiliate.
“My advice to parents is to ask questions, don’t wait,” he added, saying he is concerned that other survivors of the mass shooting might take their own lives in the wake of the tragedy.
Meadow Pollack, a victim in the shooting, was a close friend of Sydney’s
“It’s terrible what happened. Meadow and Sydney were friends for a long, long time,” Pollack continued. “Killing yourself is not the answer.”
A GoFundMe page was set up to help Sydney’s family to pay for her funeral.
It adds: “She lit up every room she entered. She filled her days cheerleading, doing yoga, and brightening up the days of others. Sydney aspired to work in the medical field helping others in need. On March 17th, 2019 Sydney became the guardian angel to many. It was a privilege to have you in our lives. Sydney, we will miss you and always love you. May you find peace in His arms.”
