The attack

Dealing with traumatic events can be difficult. It is important to learn to be understanding and empathetic. Sometimes you don't think
that these things can happen to you. In
this personal story called The Attack by Chloe Walder. We dig deep into a an unforgettable night of a young girl who still deals with the pain and memory of these events today.
THE ATTACK
I never thought this would happen to me. I was a normal kid who loved her family and loved her dog. The events that occurred during that warm September night linger with me every day of my life. Many people don't think that bad things could happen to them, especially if you're a good person. I didn't, but it did.  Some think I'm liar about my situation I get called a faker everyday my scar has been scratched because they think it's makeup . I wish sometimes that people would understand what it feels like for a thirteen year old to go through over twenty surgeries I was ten, I was mauled. They don't! Although, this event in happened years ago. It follows me like a dark cloud. Lingering in the back of my mind. My scars tell my story and there is no avoiding them. My face tells it all. They're a reminder of my strength, but to others they may see different.
September 24, 2015 around 8:30 pm.  It was a warm September night I was getting ready for bed as my dog started sniffing my foot. Then in a blink of an eye he was biting my arm i was bleeding . My mom got the dog off of me as I fastly got up and starting running. The dog, Cypress got out of his harness and i was by a closet he jumped up on me and bit my face pulling me down I was so weak I thought at this point I'm going to die . My mom opened the dog's mouth and he went down. I ran to the guest room he tackled me gripping his sharp teeth on my stomach dragging me. My mom crying my brother looking up how to get a dog off someone he threw three belts out the door and told our mom to wrap them around his neck and pull. He can't bite because he can't breathe. I got into the guest room I quickly slammed the door and locked it . I locked the door and I saw my face it was bleeding,  my mom yelled upstairs.
"Chloe are you ok?" I didn't know what to say
"I don't know mommy" I yelled
My brother was outside he asked me to let him in. Slowly gripping the handle I slowly opened the door my brother saw me and it looked like he was going to cry, it was an hour of torture my brother screaming to my mom to tell her to get up here fast. She ran up the stairs opened the door and started crying  she was so upset. Cooper my brother ran into his room to grab a shirt to try and stop the bleeding . My mom rushes us into the car I'm trying my best to breathe, still being brave and not crying . My mom is trying to get a hold of my grandparents they won't answer so we go to there house to see if they're home. They weren't home then we call my nana's phone. She quickly picks up my mom was so worried she couldn't speak she put her phone on speaker. In a soft voice i say nana go to the hospital i was just viciously attacked by Cypress .
My grandparents were so shocked they were getting groceries they leave their cart and get out of the store as fast as they can get in there car and we both rush to the hospital. Slowly getting out of the car I'm so dizzy  we get to the entrance they rush a wheelchair to me I was so nervous.  We get into the emergency room  they bring me to a room everything felt weird i was terrified 50 doctors rush around me in small room my family worried if I'm going to make it  or not . I wasn't really scared I was more scared of the IV unit than anything. Another doctor comes in he asked me to smile.
"I...I...I can't" smile my face is bleeding he told me you will never be able to smile again. He was speaking to me like I wasn't even human like i was a book I was only ten years old, my smile meant everything to me! I had to get X-rays, Cooper was trying to make me smile. They roll me to X-rays and take X-rays on my arm it hurt so bad to move. They had to touch my face, arm and look at my back and stomach i asked them to stop, one of the doctors calmed me down . In the process they gave me a special tie blanket only certain kids get.
I was moved to emergency surgery, I was given oxygen to help me breath before the surgery before i went under my family kissed me goodbye and i tried to kiss them back.
"chloe no matter what happens i love you i will always love you. If you have any scars they are battle scars if anyone says anything rude just know that you're beautiful" My nana's words  made me have strength she said
I go into the surgery they give me anesthesia through my IV and I dozed off. I  wake up from a six hour surgery they bring me to a hospital room they decide to put my favorite movie Despicable Me. I fall asleep I was in so much pain I couldn't move.

Next morning I wake up my mom excited for me to be alive my mom's friend comes to visit me she brings me my a balloon, toy, and coloring book. She spends a couple hours there i try to eat something my mom would bring me sprite and apple juice the only thing I wanted. My doctors come into to change the bandages on my arm they slowly take it off. It hurt very bad i had a certainty that is would end. I wanted it to end so i told them to stop. I really didn't like my day nurse but the doctor was really nice. I was told i was going to have another surgery at the UVM. I was terrified to need another surgery. I finally saw my stitches I  was so confused what happened I ask my mom, mommy what happened to my face . My mom almost crying said cypress attacked you I had sudden flashbacks from the night before I didn't know what it was called but Counselor later told me I had ptsd. My family come to visit me also family friend as they brought me balloons stuffed animals and my moms friend and her two older kids bring me candy food and dr.pepper . My nana papa and my brother all give me a big hug . My stitches pull my mom is worried she did something . I get out of the hospital we drive to the children's hospital I didn't need surgery the i was so excited.We get home I couldn't even pet my grandparents dog they set up a bed for me down stairs. Im slowly getting better everyday was a new journey trying to eat I couldn't open my mouth all the way my mouth opened to size of a penny maybe a little bigger . I was depended on my family my brother was a huge help he would cut food for me and make me lay down when i have been standing for to long. My mom gets a call from a landlord she says since your daughter was attacked by a dog you need to move out she was a heartless human being . Where living with our grandparents I loved it. My grade all new what happened I took all my strength to  visit my class my teacher cried seeing me. I hate having  a scar Although I might be the girl who has surgery after surgery I am still me.