Grieving Parkland mother heals through advocacy

(11 Feb 2019) IT'S BEEN NEARLY A YEAR.
UPSOUND (English) Alhadeff showing daughter's cleats and retainer:
"Put her cleats in a box and this is her retainer that she always was losing, she had issues."
BUT LORI ALHADEFF HASN'T CHANGED MUCH IN HER DAUGHTER'S BEDROOM.
ALYSSA'S SHOES, RETAINER, STILL IN PLACE.
LOTS OF PICTURES AND BOOKS MEMORIALIZING ALYSSA ALHADEFF AS A YOUNG SOCCER STAR.
UPSOUND (English) Alhadeff reaching for box on table:
"I have some of Alyssa's hair."
SPECIAL KEEPSAKES - A LOCK OF HER HAIR.
UPSOUND (English) Alhadeff showing daughter's hair in box:
"Shooter didn't take everything from me and, kept it in this special box."
DIRTY LAUNDRY, AS IT WAS BEFORE THE SHOOTING AT MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL.
UPSOUND (English) Pan from Alyssa's laundry basket filled with clothes to Lori:
"I want her back. I want her back."
SOUNDBITE (English) Lori Alhadeff, Alyssa Alhadeff's Mother:
"Everything is changing, everybody is moving on their life, but Alyssa's stopped."
THE 14 YEAR OLD TRIED TO HIDE UNDER A TABLE BUT WAS SHOT 10 TIMES.
SOUNDBITE (English) Lori Alhadeff, Alyssa Alhadeff's Mother:
"You know she just had love for everyone and, it's just very painful."
SOUNDBITE (English) Lori Alhadeff, Alyssa Alhadeff's Mother:
"I did not want any parent to go through the pain and anguish I go through everyday."
ALHADEFF IS USING HER PAIN FOR ADVOCACY.
WINNING A SCHOOL BOARD SEAT AND STARTING A FOUNDATION TO MAKE SCHOOLS SAFER - A DIZZYING PACE OF ACTIVISM SHE SAYS HELPS HER HANDLE THE GRIEF.
SOUNDBITE (English) Lori Alhadeff, Alyssa Alhadeff's Mother:
"I know I can't change what happened on 2-14. But I can change what will happen moving forward. And, if I can change the life of one person, and make an impact for one person, I'm going to honor Alyssa and make sure that her death was not in vain."
THAT'S THE DRIVING FORCE KEEPING THIS GRIEVING MOM GOING.
STILL NOT BELIEVING HER DAUGHTER IS GONE.
SOUNDBITE (English) Lori Alhadeff, Alyssa Alhadeff's Mother:
"For me it's honestly still 2-14-18. It's, this has, it's not really set in that this is a reality for me. I feel Alyssa is still coming home, like she's at her soccer game and she's still going to walk through this door."
Find out more about AP Archive: www.aparchive.c...
Twitter: / ap_archive
Facebook: / aparchives ​​
Instagram: / apnews
You can license this story through AP Archive: www.aparchive.c...