Oct. 10, 2025

She found her brother clinging on to life, prayed, and chose hope over fear! Part 2 of 3

She found her brother clinging on to life, prayed, and chose hope over fear! Part 2 of 3

"Text now! I'll Respond" We sit with Makenzie, a 15-year-old sister who helped save her brother after a suicide attempt, and trace how faith, therapy, and practical habits rebuilt trust and hope. Now 15, she sits down with us to share what happened before and after that moment—how small warning signs added up, why she kept checking on her brother even when he didn’t answer, and what it took to rebuild connection, faith, and daily life after a suicide attempt. We talk through the parts peopl...

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Season 4

"Text now! I'll Respond"

We sit with Makenzie, a 15-year-old sister who helped save her brother after a suicide attempt, and trace how faith, therapy, and practical habits rebuilt trust and hope. Now 15, she sits down with us to share what happened before and after that moment—how small warning signs added up, why she kept checking on her brother even when he didn’t answer, and what it took to rebuild connection, faith, and daily life after a suicide attempt.

We talk through the parts people often skip: the burden friends and siblings carry when someone posts about self-harm, the shock of finding a loved one, and the surreal mix of panic and practicality it takes to call 911, start CPR, and let responders in. Makenzie’s clarity cuts through noise—she questions grim predictions, honors good medical care, and explains how stubborn hope, prayer, and presence can coexist with therapy, structure, and time. She also shares the habits that steadied her: working as a swim instructor, saving aggressively, investing in a Roth IRA and index funds, and imposing her own screen-time limits to fight the comparison trap.

From music choices that protect mental health to ditching social feeds that fuel “brain rot,” Makenzie offers a blueprint for teens and parents who want peace without hiding from reality. Her sibling bond with Will is more honest now—closer, faith-filled, and transparent about fear. She names trauma without letting it define her, and invites anyone struggling to reach for help: hotlines, pastors, and therapists who can hold the weight.

If this story resonates, share it with someone who needs hope today. Subscribe for more conversations that bring courage into the open, and leave a review with the moment that stayed with you most.

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Thank you for listening to The Connection Podcast with Jay Miralles. Please subscribe and share!

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00:17 - Meet McKenzie: School, Sports, Work

01:52 - Teen Finances and Discipline

03:30 - Who Will Was Before the Crisis

06:00 - Warning Signs and Hidden Burdens

08:31 - The Day Everything Changed

12:05 - Hospital, Prognosis, and Pushback

15:20 - Family Emotions and Repair

18:05 - Faith Awakens and Deepens

21:00 - Music, Media, and Mindset Shifts

23:10 - Social Media Pressure and Comparison

26:10 - Hope, Fear, and Sibling Bond

29:45 - Therapy, Tools, and Triggers

33:00 - Speaking Up, Stigma, and Strength

36:10 - Encouragement for Parents and Will

40:24 - Closing Reflections and Thanks

WEBVTT

00:00:17.359 --> 00:00:19.519
Welcome to the connector.

00:00:19.519 --> 00:00:24.960
Major host, authority coach, Air Force veteran, Jay Morales.

00:00:30.079 --> 00:00:33.600
So, McKenzie, you are Will's sister.

00:00:33.600 --> 00:00:35.600
And um, how old are you?

00:00:35.840 --> 00:00:36.399
I am 15.

00:00:36.719 --> 00:00:38.320
15 years old, and what grade are you in?

00:00:38.560 --> 00:00:40.000
I'm a sophomore at Millard West.

00:00:40.320 --> 00:00:41.439
Okay, Millard West.

00:00:41.439 --> 00:00:44.320
Are you also homeschooling as well?

00:00:44.399 --> 00:00:50.960
Or yeah, so I'm homeschooled, but I also do one class so that way I can still do sports and everything.

00:00:51.200 --> 00:00:51.439
Okay.

00:00:51.439 --> 00:00:53.119
What sports are you involved in?

00:00:53.280 --> 00:00:54.719
I'm doing just bowling this year.

00:00:54.719 --> 00:00:57.600
I used to do track, but it wasn't very fun for me anymore.

00:00:58.159 --> 00:01:00.159
Just to run in a straight line or around a circle.

00:01:00.159 --> 00:01:00.960
No, okay.

00:01:00.960 --> 00:01:01.759
So bowling.

00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:03.840
Uh your dad is an avid bowler.

00:01:04.000 --> 00:01:04.400
Oh, yeah.

00:01:04.640 --> 00:01:07.680
I mean, he's he scored quite a few perfect games.

00:01:07.680 --> 00:01:08.400
How many?

00:01:09.359 --> 00:01:10.560
I all I know is a lot.

00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:12.400
He's got some rings too.

00:01:12.719 --> 00:01:13.280
I know.

00:01:13.280 --> 00:01:14.239
I've seen it.

00:01:14.239 --> 00:01:16.799
I remember watching a Facebook clip.

00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:19.439
I was like, how big of a deal can this be, right?

00:01:19.439 --> 00:01:23.680
And I just remember someone recording it, and everyone around was like, yeah.

00:01:23.680 --> 00:01:27.439
And you know, your dad'll have his time, but this is about you.

00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:33.439
Um, so let's um let's let's let's bring this up to speed.

00:01:33.439 --> 00:01:36.400
Um what keeps you busy these days?

00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:42.079
Like, okay, outside of school, outside of bowling, like what does McKinsey do?

00:01:42.400 --> 00:01:49.599
Well, I do like to bake, I like to cook stuff, I find it really fun, and I also do work outside of school.

00:01:49.680 --> 00:01:50.959
So where do you work?

00:01:51.200 --> 00:01:52.319
Goldfish swim school.

00:01:52.319 --> 00:01:54.719
I'm a swim instructor and a deck supervisor.

00:01:54.799 --> 00:01:56.000
So that's pretty cool.

00:01:56.000 --> 00:01:56.959
And you're 15.

00:01:56.959 --> 00:01:57.599
Yeah, right?

00:01:57.840 --> 00:01:59.120
Yeah, I'm saving up my money.

00:01:59.280 --> 00:02:00.640
Yeah, so what are you saving up for?

00:02:00.640 --> 00:02:01.599
What are you gonna use it for?

00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:02.799
Are you good with your money?

00:02:03.040 --> 00:02:10.560
Yeah, so I'm investing my money, investing like pretty much almost all of my savings, but I'm also having an emergency fund that way.

00:02:10.879 --> 00:02:13.199
Okay, when you say investing, like talk to me about that.

00:02:13.199 --> 00:02:16.960
What do you is it on an app where you put money into the stock market?

00:02:17.599 --> 00:02:18.879
Yeah, so I'm using Fidelity.

00:02:18.879 --> 00:02:26.319
I'm like investing into like VLO, all of that, and then Roth RA and everything is that way I'm set up.

00:02:26.639 --> 00:02:30.400
My I just got uh I just got goosebumps.

00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:33.039
That's that's crazy to me.

00:02:33.039 --> 00:02:34.719
Um, it's not crazy.

00:02:34.719 --> 00:02:38.000
It's I'm very impressed because I never knew about this about you.

00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:46.159
You know, if if people could um if people could realize that if they started at your age, because we read about this all the time.

00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:51.919
Well, if you would have started at 20 years old and this is you're 15 and you're starting this, right?

00:02:51.919 --> 00:02:54.960
What's your guilty uh spend?

00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:56.400
What are some of the things you spend money?

00:02:56.400 --> 00:02:58.400
What's your guilty pleasures that you spend money on?

00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:00.319
I really I try not to spend money.

00:03:00.319 --> 00:03:06.319
So I'm like giving myself a hundred bucks per month because I am like if I spend money, I spend like a lot of money.

00:03:06.319 --> 00:03:06.800
Okay.

00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:11.439
So I like to door dash a lot, but I recently I've really tried to cut back on it.

00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:14.479
Like I give myself like once a month I can DoorDash.

00:03:14.479 --> 00:03:16.960
Oh, and it's like 20 bucks, that's not that bad.

00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:21.599
But I I buy like one thing maybe every six months.

00:03:21.599 --> 00:03:22.479
That's like $200.

00:03:22.960 --> 00:03:25.439
Okay, so so you have some kind of spending discipline?

00:03:25.599 --> 00:03:25.840
Yeah.

00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:26.560
That's so cool.

00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:28.319
Maybe you could give people a class on that.

00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:30.560
That's a whole nother podcast in itself.

00:03:30.560 --> 00:03:38.879
Um, you know, this the this podcast is about your family, the healing journey, um, and about your brother Will.

00:03:39.039 --> 00:03:39.199
Yeah.

00:03:39.680 --> 00:03:43.120
Um, can you share what Will was like growing up?

00:03:43.120 --> 00:03:45.840
Like, what was the bond like before the incident?

00:03:45.840 --> 00:03:51.840
Like, truly, and I don't wanna I don't want the the what is it called?

00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:53.360
The rainbows and butterflies.

00:03:53.360 --> 00:03:55.280
I I want to know what what's real.

00:03:55.599 --> 00:03:58.719
So truly he was he was pretty humorous.

00:03:58.719 --> 00:04:12.080
He was very he was the wise guy, he liked to be the funny guy and everything, but like when we got home, he would be very like judgmental, very sometimes angry, which was very odd because usually he wasn't like that.

00:04:12.159 --> 00:04:24.000
Like the recent years what age was he starting to be angry like the age like when he took his like yeah, when he yeah, when he attempted when it was it was getting really bad.

00:04:24.240 --> 00:04:26.959
Okay, and but before that, he was really, really good.

00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:32.240
He was a wise guy, he was super funny, but um those recent years were like getting really bad.

00:04:32.319 --> 00:04:33.920
He was you guys bicker a lot.

00:04:33.920 --> 00:04:37.920
Oh yeah, oh yeah, we're still yeah, like siblings, right?

00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:41.920
Um, what do you admire most about him even before the incident?

00:04:43.199 --> 00:04:46.480
He's he's very, very strong, he's very ambitious.

00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:48.800
He like if he wants to do something, he'll do it.

00:04:48.800 --> 00:04:51.600
He won't he's very stubborn, he won't listen to anyone.

00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:53.600
Like if he wants to do something, he does it.

00:04:53.839 --> 00:04:54.720
He'll get it done.

00:04:54.720 --> 00:04:58.399
That's I is that could that be good and bad?

00:04:58.639 --> 00:05:04.319
Yeah, but because like sometimes, like, I don't know, like when he wants to do something that's not good for him, right?

00:05:04.319 --> 00:05:07.759
Like, for instance, vaping or doing drugs and stuff, that's not good for you.

00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:09.360
And he doesn't listen to anyone else.

00:05:09.519 --> 00:05:09.839
Yeah.

00:05:10.000 --> 00:05:14.160
And but we're trying to teach him, hey, you gotta sometimes listen to other people.

00:05:14.399 --> 00:05:16.480
Yeah, for sure, for sure.

00:05:16.480 --> 00:05:29.120
Um what are some of the things that you remember the year from to you know, when you heard him describe Halloween, that whole journey of a year of of just pain?

00:05:29.120 --> 00:05:38.240
What are some of the things that stood out to your mind and that that you know that validated maybe why he was in such a depressed state?

00:05:38.240 --> 00:05:41.920
What's some of the things that you saw that he was depressed about?

00:05:42.240 --> 00:05:47.519
Yeah, so it was it was really hard to see him like that, like just because usually he wasn't like that.

00:05:47.519 --> 00:06:01.120
But um when we heard that he was thinking about taking his life, because he had multiple, like he's talked to other people, like on Snapchat, like before the incident, he was talking to people saying, Hey, I'm gonna take my life.

00:06:01.120 --> 00:06:02.000
Like that's what he's like.

00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:07.839
He was telling people that's what he would tell people, and they'd be like, Will, are you are you okay?

00:06:07.839 --> 00:06:14.639
And he wouldn't text back, and then he would send pictures of these things, and then people would be like, Hey, are you good?

00:06:14.639 --> 00:06:17.360
So these people would be constantly worried about him.

00:06:17.360 --> 00:06:30.480
And I also think that that kind of brought a burden onto those people as well, okay, just because they always have to worry about him just saying all of that, but it also brought a burden onto us, but not like like a burden of the world.

00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:31.279
I know what you're doing.

00:06:31.439 --> 00:06:34.079
Like it it was a heavy weight for you to carry.

00:06:34.399 --> 00:06:34.879
Yes, exactly.

00:06:35.360 --> 00:06:38.000
Emotional, and and this is not just about will.

00:06:38.000 --> 00:06:49.199
You're talking to someone who's listening right now, yeah, and you're saying, wait a minute, if I say McKenzie, I I want to hurt myself, I'm t I'm putting my emotions on you, and that's weighing heavy on you.

00:06:49.199 --> 00:06:50.000
Yeah, exactly.

00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:53.519
Yeah, and and then you don't hear from me for two days.

00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:57.759
And then you just constantly think about it, and you're like, hey, is that person okay?

00:06:58.000 --> 00:06:58.879
Right, right.

00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:01.439
And you don't know because they don't talk to you.

00:07:01.759 --> 00:07:02.240
Yeah.

00:07:02.240 --> 00:07:06.160
I I think that's um that's something that we don't really think about, right?

00:07:06.160 --> 00:07:12.800
We always think about the incident, we never think about things that lead up to it, we never think of the causes, we never think you never see the signs.

00:07:12.800 --> 00:07:14.959
Yeah, so so let's talk about that.

00:07:14.959 --> 00:07:20.000
Yes, you heard your brother talk about this, but did you ever think that he would?

00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:21.279
I honestly didn't.

00:07:21.279 --> 00:07:23.519
Like it was such a shock.

00:07:23.519 --> 00:07:25.920
Like, like when I found him, I was like, what?

00:07:25.920 --> 00:07:29.199
Yeah, like it was just like it was mind-blowing.

00:07:29.199 --> 00:07:34.879
Like it was just like after it was like like every single night, I would just relive it and be like, Well, why would he do that?

00:07:35.199 --> 00:07:37.519
Let's go back first before that moment.

00:07:37.519 --> 00:07:43.279
Um, you know, even the few months before, what were what was his mood like?

00:07:43.279 --> 00:07:51.600
And the reason I want you to explain this is because maybe someone else can identify or see, like you said, you were shocked.

00:07:51.600 --> 00:07:53.279
You you didn't think this would happen, right?

00:07:53.279 --> 00:07:54.319
Like this is my brother.

00:07:54.319 --> 00:07:57.680
It doesn't happen, it happens in the movies, it happens to other people.

00:07:57.680 --> 00:08:00.959
But what are some of the things you saw within the last 60 days?

00:08:01.279 --> 00:08:04.800
Well, he was very isolated, he started shutting people out.

00:08:04.800 --> 00:08:11.600
We tried to get we got him into therapy and then we forgot about it for a while, but he was very isolated.

00:08:11.600 --> 00:08:16.240
He only wanted to talk to his therapist, he wouldn't talk to anyone else like about anything.

00:08:16.240 --> 00:08:22.879
He was not open at all to anyone, which was very sad because, like, as a sister, I want to know what he's going through.

00:08:22.879 --> 00:08:23.920
I want to help him.

00:08:23.920 --> 00:08:27.759
Yeah, but I couldn't because he wouldn't talk to me, he wouldn't talk to anyone.

00:08:28.079 --> 00:08:30.000
How often did you try to say hey?

00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:34.399
I mean, take me back to some of those conversations, like maybe he was in his room by himself.

00:08:34.399 --> 00:08:36.799
Did you ever just knock on the door or did you ever just say hey?

00:08:37.039 --> 00:08:44.480
Yeah, I would I would constantly check up on him because I was worried about him because just wondering how he's doing and everything.

00:08:44.480 --> 00:08:46.960
Like I would just be like, hey, well, how are you doing today?

00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:49.440
And he would just one-word answers and everything.

00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:52.000
And you were 14 at the time, 13?

00:08:52.320 --> 00:08:53.519
Uh I was in seventh grade.

00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:54.720
Seventh grade, okay.

00:08:54.720 --> 00:09:10.240
So as a seventh grader, you're thinking about this, you're living this, you're, you know, I mean, I don't think any eva I don't think any adult is equipped to to carry the burden or to carry the weight, right?

00:09:10.240 --> 00:09:16.559
So what are some of the things you were doing or going through as you were experiencing this?

00:09:16.559 --> 00:09:18.639
Like, did you seek help yourself?

00:09:18.639 --> 00:09:22.240
Did you talk to people about how you're worried about your brother?

00:09:22.240 --> 00:09:23.600
Like, how did that go?

00:09:23.840 --> 00:09:26.960
I really didn't talk to anyone except my parents.

00:09:26.960 --> 00:09:30.080
Like, we would just chat and be like, hey, what's going on with Will?

00:09:30.240 --> 00:09:30.559
Yeah.

00:09:30.799 --> 00:09:39.120
And no one would really like they didn't know because they he wouldn't really talk to them, which was very hard for them as well.

00:09:39.120 --> 00:09:51.039
Um, but I would just kind of just seek validation with them and try to understand what was going on because I was also a little bit younger, but also having to mature a little bit more in that situation.

00:09:52.240 --> 00:10:10.879
As seven years at seventh grade, though, to try to mature yourself to understand that you gotta understand people go to school for years and years and years to be doctors and counselors, and and they that's just a practice in itself for for you to recognize that gosh, I've got to mature.

00:10:10.879 --> 00:10:14.480
I mean, I don't think that's a child's responsibility, right?

00:10:14.480 --> 00:10:22.799
I don't think it's anyone's single person's responsibility, but you know, now now you alluded to it before.

00:10:22.799 --> 00:10:26.559
Do you remember the day like were you where were you coming from?

00:10:26.559 --> 00:10:28.000
Were you coming home from school?

00:10:28.159 --> 00:10:31.519
Like so I was actually like I was playing hickey that day.

00:10:31.759 --> 00:10:35.279
You're okay, so you were just you just didn't feel well enough to go to school.

00:10:35.600 --> 00:10:36.799
Yeah, I didn't feel well enough.

00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:46.240
Okay, yeah, but um, it was me and my grandma, we were both at home, okay, and um we were just sitting at home, and Will had a uh haircut appointment.

00:10:46.240 --> 00:10:49.679
My dad was like, Oh my god, I forgot he had a haircut cut appointment.

00:10:49.679 --> 00:10:51.039
I was like, oh dude.

00:10:51.039 --> 00:10:52.879
So I went looking for Will.

00:10:52.879 --> 00:10:55.519
And I thought he I thought he ran away.

00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:56.960
I'm gonna be completely honest.

00:10:56.960 --> 00:10:57.759
Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:10:57.759 --> 00:11:01.600
So I was I went outside and I was like, Will, where are you, bro?

00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:03.360
So you were looking for him, okay?

00:11:03.600 --> 00:11:15.679
Yeah, and then my I found him, and then my grandma came in there, and yeah, that's kind of do you remember like you said you called 911?

00:11:16.000 --> 00:11:17.360
Yes, so you were the one that called.

00:11:17.600 --> 00:11:18.879
So my grandma actually called 911.

00:11:19.120 --> 00:11:19.759
Oh, your grandma called it.

00:11:19.919 --> 00:11:21.360
Yeah, we were kind of doing it together, I guess.

00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:22.159
Okay, yeah, yeah.

00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:27.120
Because she said her Utah address, and I was like, nope, no, we're actually in Omaha.

00:11:27.360 --> 00:11:27.919
Oh, okay.

00:11:27.919 --> 00:11:33.440
Yeah, so she gave her Utah address because she again in the moment everyone's panicking.

00:11:33.679 --> 00:11:37.279
Yeah, and it was it was really hard like to just not run away.

00:11:37.279 --> 00:11:46.159
Like your mind just it's it's just like like what you just want to hide, run away, yeah, but you just can't because that's your brother.

00:11:46.399 --> 00:11:49.279
Was your do you remember just like being in shock?

00:11:49.279 --> 00:11:54.480
And then we'll explain that you let the firefighters in, or grandma, and you let the firefighters in.

00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:56.879
Well, what was that like?

00:11:56.879 --> 00:12:03.440
So we started doing CPR and everything, and then wait, you guys did CPR before the firefighters got there?

00:12:03.919 --> 00:12:05.840
Yeah, because that's what 911 told us to do.

00:12:05.840 --> 00:12:09.600
They were like, hey, you need to start CPR because he was already gone.

00:12:09.600 --> 00:12:19.039
And so we like, I don't know, I think we took his shirt off and then we started CPR, and then I had to go downstairs because they were gonna like bust our door down.

00:12:19.200 --> 00:12:19.919
I was like, Yeah, yeah, yeah.

00:12:20.080 --> 00:12:21.759
My mom would be pissed at me.

00:12:22.960 --> 00:12:27.759
You were thinking about the door better be unlocked so that they don't break it down.

00:12:27.759 --> 00:12:28.480
Okay, yeah.

00:12:28.480 --> 00:12:38.639
So, and and again, not making left, but it it it is it is it is remarkable at the things that we think about when we're under pressure, right?

00:12:38.639 --> 00:12:40.799
So you open the door, what happens next?

00:12:41.120 --> 00:12:41.919
Then they run in.

00:12:41.919 --> 00:12:46.480
There's like like two of them come in, and then like three or four of them come back in.

00:12:46.480 --> 00:12:48.559
They they're like, Hey, where are your stairs?

00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:49.759
Like, we need to get up there.

00:12:49.759 --> 00:12:53.279
And so I'm like, Yeah, they're over there, like please hurry.

00:12:53.279 --> 00:13:00.799
Yeah, so they run up there, and then my grandma, she's got she has a bad hit, or she had a bad hit, and she was on her knees and everything.

00:13:00.799 --> 00:13:02.799
She was like, I don't even know how I got up.

00:13:02.799 --> 00:13:08.559
Like, she was in her she's in her 70s, and she was like, I don't even know how I got up.

00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:14.159
And I was like, That's God, like he like he's telling you, like he's giving you the strength.

00:13:14.399 --> 00:13:14.960
I love it.

00:13:15.200 --> 00:13:22.639
And right after they the firefighters went in, they started doing all their stuff, started doing the CPR, the breathing, and everything.

00:13:22.639 --> 00:13:25.440
We just I was like, hey, no, no, we have to pray.

00:13:25.440 --> 00:13:27.919
So we prayed, and then they got a pulse.

00:13:28.080 --> 00:13:28.960
Oh my gosh.

00:13:28.960 --> 00:13:32.399
So they were working with Will in his room.

00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:33.120
Yeah.

00:13:33.440 --> 00:13:35.519
And you were praying, are you okay right now?

00:13:35.679 --> 00:13:36.000
Yeah.

00:13:36.240 --> 00:13:36.559
Okay.

00:13:36.559 --> 00:13:38.559
I just want to make sure you're okay.

00:13:38.559 --> 00:13:41.200
And you said we have to start praying.

00:13:41.440 --> 00:13:47.200
Yeah, because I was like, there's no other way that like God can only say them right now.

00:13:47.600 --> 00:13:50.320
And and you saw them working on him.

00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:53.360
What do you before you prayed?

00:13:53.360 --> 00:13:55.120
Like, were you watching?

00:13:55.120 --> 00:13:56.480
Were you so?

00:13:56.559 --> 00:14:06.000
We had walked out of the room, so we were in our hallway, and I was like, like, my grandma was coming, she was like speedwalking over, and I was like, hey, we just we just have to pray.

00:14:06.240 --> 00:14:06.639
Yeah.

00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:13.279
And we she prayed for us, and then we said amen, and then we walked downstairs and they're like, Oh, we got a pulse.

00:14:13.279 --> 00:14:15.279
And I was like, Oh, thank God.

00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:16.720
Yeah, yeah.

00:14:16.960 --> 00:14:17.919
It was crazy.

00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:22.480
Do you think did you think for one moment that might that might be the last moment?

00:14:22.720 --> 00:14:23.279
Oh yeah.

00:14:23.279 --> 00:14:29.600
Like when I was holding him up, it was I was like, my brother could be dead, like he could be gone.

00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:33.440
And I don't like now, I'm like, what would I do?

00:14:33.440 --> 00:14:35.919
I would be an only child, no brother.

00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:38.480
Yeah, it'd be absolutely terrible.

00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:40.159
Do you love your brother a lot?

00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:41.279
Oh yeah.

00:14:41.600 --> 00:14:42.000
Yeah.

00:14:42.240 --> 00:14:47.600
Even though sometimes he makes me mad, he's he's really sweet and he loves me.

00:14:47.840 --> 00:14:48.799
I know he does.

00:14:48.799 --> 00:14:50.080
I know he does.

00:14:50.080 --> 00:14:55.919
And and you know, when you guys grow up and you you grow older in life, you'll understand it even more.

00:14:55.919 --> 00:15:02.399
Um what emotions were going were you going through as he's recovering?

00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:05.440
Like, because he goes, he went to the emergency room, right?

00:15:05.440 --> 00:15:07.840
And then he was in the hospital.

00:15:07.840 --> 00:15:12.000
Like, what did that what did that do to you at that time?

00:15:12.480 --> 00:15:24.879
So I was still going to school, I was still in seventh grade, and half my teachers like they knew what happened because like we knew the vice principal and he told them, so they kind of exempted me from a lot of stuff.

00:15:25.039 --> 00:15:25.279
Yeah.

00:15:25.519 --> 00:15:30.320
Because I was like, like my grades were dropping, like okay, really bad.

00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:33.120
But like I didn't have like depression or anything, right?

00:15:33.120 --> 00:15:38.240
I was just sad because he was in the hospital and like I just wanted to see him all the time.

00:15:38.240 --> 00:15:39.919
Yeah, so I would just skip school.

00:15:39.919 --> 00:15:41.840
I'd be like, Hey mom, can you pick me up?

00:15:41.840 --> 00:15:45.200
And she would just let me skip school, go to the hospital so I can just see him.

00:15:45.200 --> 00:15:52.480
Yeah, and that's I feel like that's helped our relationship a lot better because just seeing him in that state.

00:15:52.480 --> 00:15:58.480
Now I know like he showed his true colors and that I can just see him.

00:15:58.720 --> 00:16:01.279
Um, what about some of the news you heard, right?

00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:04.559
Like, oh, he may not like what are some of the detrimental things you heard?

00:16:04.559 --> 00:16:06.480
Like he may not talk the same, walk the same.

00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:08.159
Did you hear any of that from the doctors?

00:16:08.559 --> 00:16:13.039
Like all the nurses, all the doctors are like, he's he's not he's probably not gonna walk.

00:16:13.039 --> 00:16:16.000
And I was like, Well, you don't know that yet.

00:16:16.000 --> 00:16:20.320
Because that's when he wasn't even out of like the um breathing tube.

00:16:20.320 --> 00:16:24.799
Yeah, and they're like, Yeah, he's probably never gonna eat.

00:16:24.799 --> 00:16:27.679
And I was like, Well, you don't know that yet.

00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:32.000
Like, you don't you don't know how he is, yeah, like you don't know what he can do.

00:16:32.159 --> 00:16:35.600
Yeah, and like it was like I could hear the fight in you right now.

00:16:35.840 --> 00:16:37.120
It's like you don't know, yeah.

00:16:37.120 --> 00:16:37.679
You don't know.

00:16:37.679 --> 00:16:45.200
Well, my mom yelled at those doctors, she yelled at them because they were like, Yeah, we're not gonna take the breathing to about today.

00:16:45.200 --> 00:16:48.720
And she was like, You told us that he was gonna be out of it today.

00:16:48.720 --> 00:16:50.320
Yeah, so you better take it out.

00:16:50.639 --> 00:16:52.559
Oh my gosh, I could picture that too.

00:16:52.720 --> 00:16:56.639
No, when you you you have to talk to her about that because she was mad.

00:16:57.039 --> 00:16:58.080
Oh gosh, yeah.

00:16:58.080 --> 00:16:59.759
I I could see your mom.

00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:06.079
Yeah, you know, um you saw your parents go through this too, right?

00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:11.359
Um, or some of the things you were thinking when you saw your parents going through this?

00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:20.960
It was it was really hard because like just thinking about what I felt because that's my brother, just thinking about like my mom, like that's her son.

00:17:20.960 --> 00:17:22.880
Yeah, and that's my dad's son.

00:17:22.880 --> 00:17:25.839
Like just thinking about that, hey, you almost lost your son.

00:17:25.839 --> 00:17:28.240
Yeah, like how are you supposed to feel with that?

00:17:28.240 --> 00:17:36.640
Yeah, that's so much heavy emotions that's on you, and then you just have to think about like, hey, I didn't I didn't see the signs enough.

00:17:37.039 --> 00:17:39.359
How did this moment change you as a sister?

00:17:39.359 --> 00:17:41.839
Did it change you as a sister, do you think?

00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:44.880
Or yes and no.

00:17:44.880 --> 00:17:48.640
Okay, because like I feel like our relationship has gotten better.

00:17:48.640 --> 00:17:49.599
Okay, like for sure.

00:17:49.599 --> 00:17:57.279
But like how, like how like just like us bonding, like I feel like we're better friends than than we ever have been.

00:17:57.279 --> 00:18:04.000
Because I feel like we can bond a little bit more that he's set back a little bit more in his maturity, yeah.

00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:07.519
But that means that we can be a little bit better together.

00:18:07.839 --> 00:18:08.960
Are you guys open with each other?

00:18:09.119 --> 00:18:09.599
Oh, yeah.

00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:13.680
Do you think there's conversations you guys have that you guys don't have with your parents or anybody else?

00:18:13.680 --> 00:18:14.160
Yeah.

00:18:14.160 --> 00:18:15.920
There is okay, but we won't tell them.

00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:17.680
Let's not tell them that.

00:18:17.839 --> 00:18:19.839
Let's not let's not share that with them.

00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:26.319
Um, but truly, I want to know if you can reach your brother now.

00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:27.759
Do you think you can reach him?

00:18:27.759 --> 00:18:30.240
You know, like connect with him more?

00:18:30.559 --> 00:18:32.720
Yeah, he tells me a lot of stuff.

00:18:32.720 --> 00:18:42.960
Like, he tells me when he's having a hard time, he tells me like like he he's the one that was telling, or not telling me, but he was like reaching out to me to get closer with God.

00:18:43.359 --> 00:18:46.880
Because I I was you weren't, so your faith was not as strong as this.

00:18:47.519 --> 00:18:55.279
It was like I didn't because I didn't s I when I was in like eighth grade, I didn't see the signs, even though he saved my brother.

00:18:55.279 --> 00:18:56.960
I didn't I still didn't believe him.

00:18:57.279 --> 00:18:57.680
Understood.

00:18:57.839 --> 00:19:00.000
Yeah, but it was just really hard.

00:19:00.000 --> 00:19:03.920
Like now I I pray every night, I read my Bible, I do all of that.

00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:06.000
I I love I love God.

00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:08.000
Yes, yeah, I love that.

00:19:08.480 --> 00:19:16.079
But I just did not have very strong faith that when he did, like right now, he's super strong in faith, which is amazing.

00:19:16.079 --> 00:19:17.920
Like, I I really love that.

00:19:18.160 --> 00:19:21.759
Yeah, you you admire that about your brother, you know.

00:19:21.759 --> 00:19:26.640
Um you guys didn't share that before though, and and and now you do.

00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:28.720
I mean, I think I think it's incredible.

00:19:28.720 --> 00:19:31.599
How has your faith helped you mature as a person?

00:19:31.920 --> 00:19:38.160
Well, just just trusting in God, just telling him, hey, if this is something that needs to happen, then you'll make it happen.

00:19:38.160 --> 00:19:40.640
And if it doesn't happen, then that's okay.

00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:48.400
Like a lot of people misunderstand like God not letting something happen with him just not wanting you to do something, right?

00:19:48.400 --> 00:19:52.559
That's his judgment and his maturity telling you that hey, you don't need this in your life.

00:19:52.559 --> 00:19:55.759
Yeah, and a lot of people just don't understand that.

00:19:55.759 --> 00:20:07.599
Yeah, like in Jeremiah 3:3, verse chapter 33, verse 3, it says, Call to me, and I will answer you, and I will like just give you my wisdom.

00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:08.559
Because he will.

00:20:08.559 --> 00:20:12.160
If you call to him, he will give you your your his downright wisdom.

00:20:12.400 --> 00:20:14.880
It's really sorry.

00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:16.480
It's okay.

00:20:16.720 --> 00:20:21.359
Um, how do you think your families come together?

00:20:21.599 --> 00:20:25.519
Well, just in faith alone, we used to not really go to church at all.

00:20:25.519 --> 00:20:28.559
Like, we didn't really get go to church on Sundays.

00:20:28.640 --> 00:20:31.440
We went like maybe Easter and Christmas.

00:20:31.680 --> 00:20:34.480
Yeah, like once a twice, three times a year.

00:20:34.640 --> 00:20:34.960
Yeah.

00:20:35.119 --> 00:20:38.799
Um, but we've really developed in our faith.

00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:44.480
Like recently, like the past like month, I've we've all really stopped listening to bad music.

00:20:44.480 --> 00:20:48.079
Like we've I like I only listen to Christian music.

00:20:48.079 --> 00:20:48.720
That's it.

00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:54.160
Because I don't I don't believe that putting bad music into my brain helps my Christianity.

00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:57.039
Okay, and that was a choice you made after being taught.

00:20:57.039 --> 00:21:03.200
Yeah, what made you all of a sudden say, All right, all right, uh, Apple Tunes or whatever.

00:21:04.079 --> 00:21:15.279
We actually we did switch because I I feel like I was being guilted into listening to the listening to those bad songs just because all the kids listen to rap songs.

00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:23.599
But it's it's really there are so many Christian songs that are like rap songs that are just as good.

00:21:23.599 --> 00:21:32.480
And they're they put your faith better in Jesus, okay, and they really like give you more joy than the other sad suicidal songs do.

00:21:32.720 --> 00:21:33.680
Yeah, okay.

00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:38.559
What about um talk to me about social media in your age, right?

00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:41.759
Like how do you use it now?

00:21:41.759 --> 00:21:46.240
Like, what's your utilization like and what's your thoughts about it?

00:21:46.240 --> 00:21:47.279
Your true thoughts.

00:21:47.279 --> 00:21:53.920
Like, I don't wanna I don't want anything altruistic or holy art now, but tell me, um 15?

00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:56.960
Yeah, what's a 15-year-old do now with with social media?

00:21:56.960 --> 00:21:58.000
Are you on it a lot?

00:21:58.240 --> 00:22:07.039
So I I only have Instagram because my mom said I could get TikTok, but I I really choose to only have Instagram just not TikTok.

00:22:07.039 --> 00:22:18.240
Tell me why it's just like I'm I've had it before, and I just really think that it's only for the videos, and I don't I feel like it rot to rain a little bit more than it should.

00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:19.440
Brain rot.

00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.640
Everyone talks about that.

00:22:20.799 --> 00:22:21.359
Yeah, exactly.

00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:29.440
Yeah, so I um I have screen time on myself so that way I'm not on it as much, so that way I can really live life to its fullest.

00:22:29.440 --> 00:22:34.319
Yeah, that way I'm not spending 18 years of my whole life on a phone.

00:22:34.319 --> 00:22:36.480
Because that's ultimately what everyone does.

00:22:36.480 --> 00:22:40.319
You spend four hours on your phone every day, you're spending 18 years on your phone.

00:22:40.640 --> 00:22:46.640
Wow, four hours a day is 18 years living on a phone in your average of lifetime, is what you're saying.

00:22:46.799 --> 00:22:47.359
Yeah.

00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:49.119
I never thought about it like that.

00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:49.680
Yeah, man.

00:22:49.839 --> 00:22:52.799
Mackenzie, you're way ahead of your way ahead of your time.

00:22:52.799 --> 00:23:11.119
Um what did you what do you think when you see what are the dangers that kids face with the social media and depression and ideation and and things that they in comparison, like does that aid to people doing bad things or not?

00:23:11.599 --> 00:23:23.119
Absolutely, because it's just the trends, yeah, the people thinking that hey, this is how I need to be, this is reality, like these models that are very skinny, they're very pretty.

00:23:23.119 --> 00:23:24.400
You don't need to be like that.

00:23:24.400 --> 00:23:28.799
Okay, like you just are your perfect self and you just need to be kind.

00:23:28.799 --> 00:23:37.039
Like, you don't have to put yourself onto these other people that are not realistic.

00:23:37.039 --> 00:23:49.039
And watching like watching videos that aren't realistic, like I've been watching a lot of like videos on just making money and everything, and they're they're not they're not very realistic, okay.

00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:51.839
Like drop shipping, not very realistic.

00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:55.599
I was like, okay, um, so I don't watch those videos anymore.

00:23:56.319 --> 00:23:58.000
You even know what drop shipping is, right?

00:23:58.000 --> 00:24:06.640
Because there'll be 35-year-olds that are watching this that are not even um that are not even realistic per se.

00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:13.359
And um what about the comparison trap at 15 years old?

00:24:13.359 --> 00:24:17.359
Like, oh gosh, Molly has that or Shelly does that.

00:24:17.359 --> 00:24:18.400
Do you do that now?

00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:28.960
Or it's very hard not to, okay, just because you look at all these people that are very rich, and it's like, I wish I had that, but ultimately, like, you have what you need.

00:24:28.960 --> 00:24:30.799
Like in your life, you have what you need.

00:24:30.799 --> 00:24:40.079
Like, you have food, you have everything, but like you just need the people around you, and you just need friendships, relationships, God, faith.

00:24:40.079 --> 00:24:42.000
That's all you need in your life.

00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:46.799
You don't need a humongous house, you don't need Lamborghinis.

00:24:47.440 --> 00:24:48.880
Hey, hey, don't be mad.

00:24:48.880 --> 00:24:52.000
No, I don't have one, but I mean, if I get one, don't be mad at me.

00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:52.480
No, yeah.

00:24:52.480 --> 00:24:53.279
No, I'm kidding.

00:24:53.279 --> 00:24:58.799
But I I get I get what you're saying, and it's very mature for a 15-year-old to think of like this.

00:24:58.799 --> 00:25:00.160
What do you what do you say?

00:25:00.160 --> 00:25:02.799
Because even even at I'm 55.

00:25:02.799 --> 00:25:03.119
Yeah.

00:25:03.119 --> 00:25:08.640
And and and I'm like, come on, Mackenzie, this is too good.

00:25:08.640 --> 00:25:10.400
Do you really believe in Jesus that much?

00:25:10.400 --> 00:25:13.519
I'm not saying that, but I'm saying people probably think that, you know?

00:25:13.519 --> 00:25:13.839
Yeah.

00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:16.160
How does that make you feel and how do you react?

00:25:16.559 --> 00:25:29.279
So when I think of like people just like hating on people's Christianity, like I un I understand you don't have that relationship with God, but other people do, okay, and they strongly believe in God.

00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:34.000
And yes, there's atheists, and I'm not hating on them or anything.

00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:34.720
Neither am I.

00:25:34.880 --> 00:25:35.279
Yeah, right.

00:25:35.599 --> 00:25:39.519
But I believe that everyone can turn their life to Christ at some point.

00:25:39.519 --> 00:25:45.119
Like you, even when you're seven years old and you're in hospice, you can turn your life to Christ and still go to heaven.

00:25:46.079 --> 00:25:48.559
Yeah, that's pretty powerful to say, right?

00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:51.599
You believe that it sounds like I mean you're you're convicted, right?

00:25:51.599 --> 00:25:53.359
Like you just your conviction.

00:25:53.920 --> 00:25:57.680
I got baptized early, I think I was like 10 or 11, I got baptized.

00:25:57.680 --> 00:25:58.160
Okay.

00:25:58.160 --> 00:25:58.559
Yeah.

00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:02.799
I mean, I think baptism is one thing, right?

00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:10.319
At 10 or 11, you know, making the decision, you know, even at the 10-11, but practicing every day is probably just as important.

00:26:10.319 --> 00:26:10.720
Yeah.

00:26:10.720 --> 00:26:11.359
Right.

00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:17.039
Um, how how has faith played a part in the family healing?

00:26:17.279 --> 00:26:27.599
It's it's really played like uh like in recent years, it's played a bigger part just because we're, I guess, a lot kinder to each other.

00:26:27.599 --> 00:26:30.240
Like there would be times like where we'd be really stressed out.

00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:42.480
Of course, yeah, but we're a lot more kinder to each other, we're really trying to be a lot more faith-based and trying to just be kinder to other those other people and just thinking about hey, what would God do?

00:26:42.480 --> 00:26:43.440
What would Jesus do?

00:26:43.599 --> 00:26:47.920
Yeah, it's not it's not to say that you're perfect, exactly.

00:26:47.920 --> 00:26:50.559
It's to say that you're practicing your faith, right?

00:26:50.640 --> 00:26:50.960
Yeah.

00:26:52.160 --> 00:26:53.519
What would you say to kids?

00:26:53.519 --> 00:26:56.799
So you have friends, friends will be watching this, Mackenzie.

00:26:56.799 --> 00:27:04.400
I mean, they'll be like, hey, you're on a podcast, cool, they're gonna hear this part of the message, they're gonna hear your faith.

00:27:04.400 --> 00:27:06.559
They're they they don't have a relationship.

00:27:06.559 --> 00:27:11.119
How would you invite someone like that to have a relationship with God?

00:27:11.519 --> 00:27:25.920
I would just I would pray every night just for forgiveness for God that I would I would recommend that you put your life to Christ, that you ask him to forgive you of your sins, and he will, and he will show you the way that you need to go.

00:27:26.240 --> 00:27:35.119
Do you really believe that your faith is that powerful that it can help guide you out of the situation that you all were in?

00:27:35.119 --> 00:27:36.640
Do you think that was a big critical?

00:27:37.440 --> 00:27:38.079
Absolutely.

00:27:38.079 --> 00:27:47.200
Like, I I think that he brought us in there to make us stronger in our faith because we we prayed right after it happened and he made it happen.

00:27:47.440 --> 00:27:48.079
Yeah.

00:27:48.079 --> 00:27:53.599
What I'm sure there's some people might say, Well, why did God let that even happen?

00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:55.680
Do what would you say to that?

00:27:55.839 --> 00:27:59.119
You know, there w God didn't let it happen.

00:27:59.359 --> 00:27:59.680
Okay.

00:28:00.079 --> 00:28:03.680
It was Satan putting himself into my brother's mind.

00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:07.200
But he stopped it because that's his ultimate power.

00:28:07.200 --> 00:28:09.200
He has that power to stop Satan.

00:28:09.440 --> 00:28:11.279
That's pretty powerful, Mackenzie.

00:28:11.279 --> 00:28:12.480
I'm serious.

00:28:12.480 --> 00:28:18.640
Like, you know, I'm sitting here, I'm 55, and I'm listening to you, and I'm it's not just the words you're saying.

00:28:18.640 --> 00:28:26.880
I I I see your posture, your your conviction, your you're talking about it as if like we just walked five miles this morning.

00:28:26.880 --> 00:28:27.920
Like, you know what I mean?

00:28:27.920 --> 00:28:29.279
Like how you would describe it, right?

00:28:29.279 --> 00:28:31.200
I'd be like, hey, how'd you feel on the five mile?

00:28:31.200 --> 00:28:32.559
You'd be like, This is how I felt.

00:28:32.559 --> 00:28:40.079
You know, I feel like it's a natural belief, you know, with within you that that just I see it shine through.

00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:43.039
How's your relationship with your brother grown since then?

00:28:43.039 --> 00:28:47.119
Like, truly, you know, I know it's it's better, I know it's faith-based.

00:28:47.119 --> 00:28:49.759
You're having conversations with each other.

00:28:49.759 --> 00:28:54.079
You know, has it are you scared for him now?

00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:56.319
Are you are you nervous for him?

00:28:56.319 --> 00:28:57.920
Are you encouraged by him?

00:28:57.920 --> 00:28:59.839
Like, how do you feel about that now?

00:29:00.079 --> 00:29:10.319
So there are like points when I do get scared, like that he could take his life again because when his girlfriend broke up with him, I was like, Is he gonna do it again?

00:29:10.319 --> 00:29:16.559
Okay, that's what ultimately scared me a lot because that was just the trauma bringing back in of what happened.

00:29:16.559 --> 00:29:22.319
Yeah, and that that really like scared me and brought a little bit of peace PTSD from that.

00:29:22.400 --> 00:29:23.839
But yeah, that's fair.

00:29:23.839 --> 00:29:26.240
I mean, the traumatic stress you went through.

00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:28.960
What help did you get for yourself?

00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:38.000
I think that's important, or did you seek help because you witnessed this firsthand, and that's not normal to to witness.

00:29:38.000 --> 00:29:41.839
What did you do outside you know, your faith, all those things?

00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:44.480
But what else did you do to did you see a counts birth?

00:29:44.720 --> 00:29:48.319
Yeah, so I do therapy every other week, so I talk to her a lot about it.

00:29:48.480 --> 00:29:49.680
You still do that now, okay.

00:29:49.839 --> 00:29:52.400
Yeah, just because I how do you feel about therapy?

00:29:52.480 --> 00:29:52.960
Honestly.

00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:53.839
Oh, I love it.

00:29:53.839 --> 00:29:59.839
I think a lot of people should get into it if they have a lot of trauma, just because you can unload all of it, like you.

00:29:59.839 --> 00:30:04.160
Your brain pushes all your trauma back so far you don't even remember it.

00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:04.880
Remember it.

00:30:04.880 --> 00:30:14.000
But there are things like tools that can help you not erase it from your mind, but go to the point where you don't really have to think about it a lot.

00:30:14.480 --> 00:30:18.319
What if what if you hear whispers in the room that there's Mackenzie?

00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:20.319
There's the one that's her brother.

00:30:20.319 --> 00:30:21.839
That oh, that's happened.

00:30:21.839 --> 00:30:22.400
Yeah, okay.

00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:22.880
Tell me.

00:30:23.359 --> 00:30:23.599
Tell me.

00:30:23.920 --> 00:30:25.839
It it's it's hard to think about.

00:30:25.839 --> 00:30:27.920
Like people are like, oh my god, her brother.

00:30:27.920 --> 00:30:28.799
Yeah.

00:30:28.799 --> 00:30:33.119
But I'm also like, yeah, my brother took his life, but I saved him.

00:30:34.079 --> 00:30:35.359
I love that.

00:30:35.359 --> 00:30:40.319
I mean, I love the confidence that comes out from that.

00:30:40.319 --> 00:30:48.079
You know, it is brave, but more so that I don't feel like I'm talking to a 15-year-old right now, right?

00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:54.880
I think you've aged to a 29 or 49-year-old person, you know, because of the things that you went through.

00:30:54.880 --> 00:31:03.200
There are people that experience what you experienced and witness what you witnessed, and they don't want to seek help.

00:31:03.200 --> 00:31:05.200
What do you say to that person?

00:31:05.759 --> 00:31:10.160
I encourage you to seek help so that way you don't have to deal with it.

00:31:10.160 --> 00:31:24.799
So that way you can have someone help you through it, and you can ultimately not forget about it, but just explore your word and what you had like experienced.

00:31:25.119 --> 00:31:30.480
W what about someone who says, Man, I I don't I just don't want to I don't even want to go through the process.

00:31:30.480 --> 00:31:33.519
I'm I don't want to go to a crazy quack doctor.

00:31:33.519 --> 00:31:35.839
I don't want to go to a counselor, I'm fine.

00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:37.839
What what do you just say to that person?

00:31:38.160 --> 00:31:39.599
Everyone's not fine.

00:31:39.599 --> 00:31:43.359
Like when they say that, a lot of people just aren't, they just are hiding it.

00:31:43.359 --> 00:31:49.279
And I I know you don't want to speak to someone about your problems, but the therapist doesn't tell anyone.

00:31:49.279 --> 00:31:50.240
Like, right, right.

00:31:50.240 --> 00:31:53.039
Yeah, she has a contract, she can't tell anyone about anything.

00:31:53.039 --> 00:32:03.519
And she or they help you in any way, like they talk about your feelings, they talk about like, oh, what happened?

00:32:03.519 --> 00:32:06.160
Like, you had anxiety, why do you have anxiety?

00:32:06.160 --> 00:32:07.440
How can we fix that?

00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:09.119
And so they're trying to help.

00:32:09.359 --> 00:32:16.720
Yeah, and you you believe that, and you've been going every other week pretty systematically since then.

00:32:16.880 --> 00:32:17.119
Yeah.

00:32:17.359 --> 00:32:23.680
Is there a point where you're like, hmm, there's an exit ramp sometime, or do you ever feel like, gosh, when's this gonna be over?

00:32:23.680 --> 00:32:29.119
Or how do you feel about your sessions specifically and the rhythm of your session?

00:32:29.440 --> 00:32:42.319
So sometimes like they do get boring because I don't have a lot to talk about, but I I like to be able to vent to someone other than my parents because my therapist doesn't have an opinion.

00:32:42.319 --> 00:32:46.960
Like she really like just thinks about it like systematically.

00:32:46.960 --> 00:32:50.799
She like just thinks about my feelings about it.

00:32:51.039 --> 00:32:56.720
Let me ask you um, what's a technique you use to help with the trauma?

00:32:56.720 --> 00:32:58.960
Because the trauma comes up every now and then.

00:32:58.960 --> 00:33:06.000
You get um triggered, or you get you live through it again, or something reminds you of it.

00:33:06.000 --> 00:33:18.000
What do you is there a technique that you use, or how do you deal with it when you know, Sunday afternoon, two o'clock, and do you still have episodes of like you said, it played through your mind a few times or horrible.

00:33:18.319 --> 00:33:27.119
Yeah, it it does like sometimes it sometimes does that, but usually like I don't try to think about it a lot.

00:33:27.119 --> 00:33:37.119
I just try to like kind of push it out of my mind, but also like just keep it there so that way I can remember and tell people what happened and show them that there is greater good for it.

00:33:37.279 --> 00:33:37.599
Yeah.

00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:40.160
Um, but I usually pray about it like at night.

00:33:40.160 --> 00:33:43.920
I'm like, hey, just don't push it out of my mind, Lord.

00:33:43.920 --> 00:33:46.960
But I I pray that you don't bring this up.

00:33:46.960 --> 00:33:51.839
Like I pray that you heal me from this traumatic response that I have.

00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:52.400
Yeah.

00:33:52.640 --> 00:34:01.599
Or um when I have anxiety, I try to go to my parents because I have anxiety not frequently, but it it does happen.

00:34:01.599 --> 00:34:01.920
Yeah.

00:34:01.920 --> 00:34:04.640
Just because of the trauma and just what I went through.

00:34:04.640 --> 00:34:08.079
But I try to go to them and they really help me calm me down.

00:34:08.400 --> 00:34:18.239
Someone's out there, if they say, Hey, I'd like to talk to you respectfully about what happened, then it will help me understand just from my own situation.

00:34:18.239 --> 00:34:19.760
Can people approach you like that?

00:34:19.760 --> 00:34:21.440
Are you an approachable person?

00:34:21.840 --> 00:34:23.280
Yeah, I'll talk to anyone.

00:34:23.280 --> 00:34:25.599
Like I'll I'll listen to your story.

00:34:25.599 --> 00:34:28.400
I'll if you want my input, I'll give you input.

00:34:28.400 --> 00:34:30.800
I'll I'll try to help you as best as I can.

00:34:31.119 --> 00:34:40.239
Um, what gives you hope now when you see Will in his recovery and his journey of healing?

00:34:40.239 --> 00:34:44.079
You know, talk about his level of maturity, you know.

00:34:44.079 --> 00:34:50.960
Like, I mean, okay, he's a 17-year-old kid, but you were talking about how he's a little more mature.

00:34:50.960 --> 00:34:55.119
What are besides that, what are some of the good qualities you see in your brother now?

00:34:55.840 --> 00:35:00.639
Well, there are times, like just because his brain injury kind of set him back a little bit.

00:35:00.880 --> 00:35:01.599
Yes, okay.

00:35:01.840 --> 00:35:11.360
I think he's not set back as much as he used to be, but sometimes there are points where he acts like a 15-year-old, which is fine because he's still a boy.

00:35:11.599 --> 00:35:11.760
Yeah.

00:35:11.760 --> 00:35:13.840
Okay, okay, that's fair.

00:35:14.079 --> 00:35:14.320
Yeah.

00:35:14.320 --> 00:35:26.079
But he's he's very mature, like he really he sometimes knows how to respond in situations that other people really wouldn't know how to respond in, which is amazing.

00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:30.079
Um, like at work, he loves work, which is I think is so cute.

00:35:30.079 --> 00:35:36.719
But he he loves to work, he's very passionate about anything that he does.

00:35:36.719 --> 00:35:40.079
Like bowling, he's he's very passionate about bowling.

00:35:40.079 --> 00:35:42.239
Like he gets really mad when he doesn't do good.

00:35:42.239 --> 00:35:44.320
Yeah, but he's really good.

00:35:45.280 --> 00:35:48.000
You know your parents are gonna watch this over and over and over.

00:35:48.000 --> 00:35:48.559
Oh yeah.

00:35:48.559 --> 00:35:50.400
Probably this next part, too.

00:35:50.400 --> 00:35:50.719
Yeah.

00:35:50.719 --> 00:36:04.800
And I want you to look into the camera, and I want you to picture your mom and dad um truly listening to you, and and here's what I want you to explain to them.

00:36:04.800 --> 00:36:09.360
Um, your parents went through a lot, you went through a lot.

00:36:09.360 --> 00:36:21.119
Say some encouraging words to your parents right now of where you're at in your life and what you've thought of them through this whole process.

00:36:22.480 --> 00:36:24.960
Well, I love you guys very much, you know that.

00:36:24.960 --> 00:36:32.159
But I I really just want you guys to not think that I'm not doing okay because I am doing amazing.

00:36:32.159 --> 00:36:39.039
I'm really great in my faith, and I I hope that you guys can put some more faith in God as well.

00:36:39.039 --> 00:36:42.639
Just pray about me and I'll pray about you guys and everything.

00:36:42.639 --> 00:36:44.079
But I I love you guys.

00:36:44.400 --> 00:36:51.679
How much how much do you think your parents played into your support role?

00:36:51.679 --> 00:36:53.519
Like into supporting you?

00:36:53.920 --> 00:36:54.400
A lot.

00:36:54.400 --> 00:36:59.440
Like just after the incident, they were always asking me, Hey, are you okay?

00:36:59.440 --> 00:37:06.559
Because they they know what I went through, and they were just always asking just to make sure that I was okay with all the trauma and everything.

00:37:06.559 --> 00:37:16.000
Because I was younger, and they just wanted to make sure that I wasn't having any depression or anything like that, because I wouldn't wish that upon anyone.

00:37:16.239 --> 00:37:17.119
Yeah, yeah.

00:37:17.119 --> 00:37:23.599
I I mean it's it's a it's too common and it's unspoken about.

00:37:23.599 --> 00:37:28.960
There's someone right now struggling with mental health in general, right?

00:37:28.960 --> 00:37:34.800
And that person doesn't know where to get help and doesn't know if they should even seek help.

00:37:34.800 --> 00:37:38.400
Talk to that person right now about seeking help for mental health.

00:37:38.800 --> 00:37:44.880
So I would dial the hotline number if you really are in a deep dark place right now.

00:37:44.880 --> 00:37:56.480
If you go to church, I would go talk to your pastors, I would go get a therapist, I would go get trauma therapy if you dealt with something like I had to deal with, because they're there for you, for you.

00:37:56.480 --> 00:37:59.920
They're there so that way they can help you so you don't feel that way.

00:38:00.239 --> 00:38:14.960
Final part is to your brother, because he'll walk just over and over to encourage and encouragement, words for your brother, how you feel about him and and just what you're feeling right now, just opening up about all this.

00:38:15.280 --> 00:38:23.440
Well, Will, I I love you very much, and I I really want you to keep going strong with your faith, and I want you to just put all your faith in God.

00:38:23.440 --> 00:38:26.800
I want you to talk to me more.

00:38:26.800 --> 00:38:30.559
I want you to just open up a little bit more.

00:38:30.559 --> 00:38:32.159
But I love you.

00:38:33.440 --> 00:38:34.079
That's awesome.

00:38:34.079 --> 00:38:35.119
How do you feel right now?

00:38:35.360 --> 00:38:35.920
Pretty good.

00:38:36.159 --> 00:38:36.639
Do you?

00:38:36.639 --> 00:38:38.800
Did you think that this would go this way?

00:38:39.039 --> 00:38:39.360
Yeah.

00:38:39.679 --> 00:38:40.000
Yeah.

00:38:40.000 --> 00:38:49.039
Well, I you have a very courageous voice of um compassion.

00:38:49.039 --> 00:38:50.960
I want you to remember that.

00:38:50.960 --> 00:38:54.400
Um had to hold my tears back a couple times.

00:38:54.400 --> 00:39:00.639
Um, I respect and admire uh your courage.

00:39:00.639 --> 00:39:02.480
You're a different kind of person.

00:39:02.480 --> 00:39:03.599
You know what I mean?

00:39:03.599 --> 00:39:17.039
I mean, I think God has put you on this earth to encourage others, to save people, to be a light in this world that is an Instagram trap.

00:39:17.039 --> 00:39:18.159
You know what I mean?

00:39:18.159 --> 00:39:33.760
And I pray that you continue to strengthen yourself, to put on his armor, because you're going to have difficult conversations in the future of professing your faith.

00:39:33.760 --> 00:39:40.480
And you're going to have challenges of people challenging, well, what if this, what if that?

00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:49.679
And um the ideation of of hurting yourself, not you, of just anyone in general, will always be around.

00:39:49.679 --> 00:39:58.000
And that will, you know, and I just want you to know, McKenzie, this this interview was probably more for me than it was you.

00:39:58.000 --> 00:40:04.159
And and I'm I'm grateful that you gave us your perspective, the sister, right?

00:40:04.159 --> 00:40:08.480
A 15-year-old girl who was 13 or 12 at the time, is that right?

00:40:08.480 --> 00:40:14.559
I mean to live through all that and be able to stand up and tell a great story.

00:40:14.559 --> 00:40:18.159
I think your parents and your family is blessed to have you.

00:40:18.639 --> 00:40:19.280
Thank you.

00:40:19.599 --> 00:40:20.079
All right.

00:40:20.079 --> 00:40:22.239
Thank you for being on the connection today.

00:40:24.400 --> 00:40:26.639
Thanks for tuning in to The Connect.

00:40:26.639 --> 00:40:33.840
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