Hi Everyone,Here’s my story and thank you for being a part of it. August 30, 2023 was the day everything changed. I was shot three times in a drive-by shooting in Capitol Hill, Seattle—one bullet grazed my left knee, another, my right hip, and the last, my jaw. But the wounds didn’t stop there. The trauma infiltrated every aspect of my
life—physically, emotionally, and mentally.
Waking up each morning became a battle. Violent stomach aches from night terrors greeted me daily, and there were days when my legs would lock up, leaving me relying on a cane to walk. My skin erupted with painful eczema and welts as my body reacted to the immense stress. I developed a stutter with my speech. And the fear? The fear of simply leaving my home became suffocating and still holds true to this day. I manage them the best I can and I’m thankful to the medical professionals who assisted me.
But the physical scars were only part of it. The real wounds ran deeper—the invisible ones that couldn’t be stitched up or healed with exercise or medication.
My mind, once focused on becoming a high school arts and music teacher, was now consumed with the constant battle of intense PTSD and anxiety. The creative energy I had poured into my (first-ever) 4.0 GPA, committed and ready to inspire students, was derailed. I lost my intended teaching job, and with it, the dream I had worked so hard to build.
The weight of the trauma felt unbearable, and yet, somewhere deep inside, a part of me refused to give in. I remember the split second where I decided to choose a path of healing and I knew that if I could survive the shooting, I could survive the aftermath.
Rebuilding From the Ground Up
The road to recovery has been long, and at times, excruciating. I immersed myself in therapy—working closely with a counselor specializing in PTSD and art therapy, and finding support through groups of survivors like myself in the Everytown Network. The healing process wasn’t just about talking through the trauma; it was about finding ways to reclaim my body and mind, piece by piece. Art became my lifeline. I started creating again—not just as an escape, but as a way to confront the pain head-on. It was through this art that I began to transform the weight of my trauma into something tangible, something that could be seen and shared. Sound, photography, collage, textile—each medium allowed me to express what words couldn’t. And then, a moment of serendipity changed everything. A stranger noticed my artwork, purchased what I had in the series and offered me a private artist residency in Upstate New York, right then and there. It was the blast of light I had been searching for—the chance to take everything I had been through and turn it into something meaningful. Complete Physical and Mental Transformation
But it wasn’t just art that saved me. I turned to my body, determined to regain control over the trauma it had endured. Within three weeks of the shooting, I joined a gym, fixed my bike, and I began riding five days a week to and from my new, local gym. I treated my body with respect, nourishing it with the best I could afford, and allowed myself to heal physically, even as my mind still wrestled with itself and the new dialogue my body had created with it.
Through every push of the pedal and every weight lifted, I felt a small piece of myself feeling more familiar. I refused to let my body remain a vessel for pain. I fought to regain strength, both mentally and physically, transforming the trauma into fuel for something greater. I had plugged into my vulnerability and authenticity.
The anxiety and PTSD still linger. Some days are harder than others, and the recent, multiple episodes of more gun violence in my neighborhood continue to trigger old wounds. But now, I have the tools to heal. I have a community that supports me, a therapist that guides me, and a residency that offers me a space to create and thrive.
Why Your Support Is Crucial Now, I’m asking for your help. The funds I’m requesting will allow me to fully dedicate myself to this artist residency and the healing work I still need to do. Your donation will provide the materials, rent for my Seattle apartment, food, therapeutic care, and daily essentials that will sustain me for the next three months. With these resources, I can continue the transformation that I’ve begun—one that turns trauma into art, fear into strength, and pain into purpose.
Your support will enable me to create photography, cross-stitch collages, audio compositions, and sensory exploration pieces—all born from my journey through trauma and into healing.
What You’ll Receive in Return
For your generosity, you’ll receive a digital copy of one of the photographs created during the residency and two orange bicycle stickers designed by me—a symbol of gun violence awareness and a
reminder to check for cyclists. (Place them inside next to your car door handles to remind you of cyclists like me, before you pull that handle!) These stickers represent more than just my art; they represent the life I’m rebuilding. Additionally, your name will be honored at my residency showcase this winter, displayed alongside those who believed in this transformative moment.
As well, 10% of all donations will go to the Everytown Network, supporting their tireless work in advocating for gun violence prevention and awareness, helping survivors like me rebuild their lives, and the network that connected me with other survivors, whom I still connect with daily.
Help Me Continue This Transformation
I didn’t ask for help before because I was afraid to, but I’ve done the hard work—physically, mentally, and emotionally—to rebuild myself. Now, I’m ready to turn this transformation into something greater than myself, and I need your help to get there.With your support, I can take this opportunity to heal as close to fully as possible, express my journey through art, and emerge stronger than ever. I’ve survived the unimaginable, and now, with your generosity, I can thrive.
Thank you from the depths of my heart for believing in me.
Jess Wamre
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