An Interrupted Life

3-Day Series

After months of perseverance by The Columbus Dispatch, reluctantly, we agreed to a story on Rachel as long as it was ONLY about her recovery. The series originally was planned for four days, but The Dispatch decided to condense it into three. As a result, considerable background material was left out opening the door to misunderstandings about Rachel, her family, friends and even the event itself. Rachel's story was once again being brought to the forefront and there was no shortage of comments from radio talk shows, forums, blogs, letters to the editor, personal mail and phone calls; it appeared everyone had an opinion. Most of the comments were supportive, but some were very hurtful. All we wanted was to be left alone so we could focus on Rachel's recovery. Overall, though, it was a well written article capturing Rachel's amazing spirit. One letter to the editor best summarized the series: "The articles regarding Rachel Barezinsky were of love and friendship, faith, hope and recovery."

The three-part series titled "An Interrupted Life" began on July 15, 2007. For months, reporter Encarnita Pyle and photographer Shari Lewis, shadowed Rachel, her family, and her friends as they documented her daily struggles, her amazingly strong spirit and the prospects for her future, as well as how the shooting affected everyone around her. Click here for the background to this series.

"An Interrupted Life" received a first place award in the annual 2008 Ohio SPJ Awards for "Best Feature" Online story. The series also received a second place award in the 2007 APSO awards for "Best Enterprise Reporting". The judges' comments: "Best written story in the category. Gripping detail".

Day 1:
The night that changed everything

Day 2:
Regaining her balance

Day 3:
What now?

An Interrupted Life
Video

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About This Site

Welcome and thank you for visiting Rachel's Miracle. An inspirational, heart-warming story of Love and Friendship, Faith, Hope and Recovery. The purpose of this site is to provide hope to brain injury survivors, caregivers, family members, friends, or anyone else affected by this injury.

Power Of Prayer

"Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer, believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours." (Mk 11:24)

"Behold, I make all things new." (Rv 21:5)

Please Remember Rachel In Your Prayers!

The Climb

Ain't about how fast I get there
Ain't about what's waiting on the other side
It's the climb

The struggles I'm facing
The chances I'm taking
Sometimes might knock me down
But no, I'm not breaking

And I, I got to be strong
Just keep pushing on

by: Alexander, J; Mabe, J;