This material was originally published by Reform Austin.

Graphic by Reform Austin.

Loading the

Elevenlabs Text to Speech

AudioNative Player…

Miah Cerrillo, a survivor of the 2022 Robb Elementary School shooting in Uvalde, Texas, celebrated her quinceañera, a milestone her family describes as a moment of gratitude and healing.

Cerrillo was a fourth-grader in classroom 112 when a gunman killed 19 students and two teachers. In testimony to Congress, she recalled, “I grabbed a little blood and put it all over me… I thought he would come back to the room.” She then used her teacher’s phone to call 911.

More than three years later, her family says she continues to heal. Her mother, Abigale Veloz, told ABC News that early on, Miah struggled to leave her room or their home and still finds crowded places difficult. According to ABC, she was diagnosed with PTSD and continues to suffer physical effects, including bullet fragments that still surface from her back and shoulders.

For her quinceañera, the dress boutique Moda2000 offered to donate any gown she chose, according to ABC NEWS . The dress was tailored to ensure the bullet wounds on her shoulders would not be visible.

When asked what made the day special, Miah said she was grateful for life. 

Fellow Uvalde survivors attended her celebration, a quiet reminder of resilience and community as she steps into a new chapter.

For more information regarding gun violence in Texas, visit RA’s site Gun Violence Watch and follow us on Instagram , Facebook , and X .