Brenda Hollins said her son, Mike Hollins, was removed from intensive care and walked for the first time on Wednesday, days after he was shot in the back by a former UVA football player.
That didn't stop Mike Hollins, who was intubated at the time, from asking with a pen and paper.
She continued: "Mike's cry was so deep it was like coming from his soul. It was like a cry I'd never heard before in my life. It was so deep. His cry was so deep. There was nothing I could do. I can't grab him and pull him to me and hug him because he's hurt. I can't move him. It was like he was alone in that moment. We were there, but he was alone."
Mike Hollins recalled to his mother what happened on the charter bus Sunday night. He said he thought balloons were popping, until he realized a student had a gun. Mike Hollins was one of the first people off the bus, but he said only two others followed him. He directed the students to keep running and went back on the bus to help others.
Mike Hollins then came face-to-face with the shooter, 22-year-old Christopher Darnell Jones Jr., who he said pointed a handgun at him. Mike Hollins was shot in the back while trying to run away. The bullet exited his stomach.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Mike Hollins, fourth Virginia shooting victim, doesn't know his friends died, mother saysWhen asked if UVA shooting survivor Mike Hollins knows of the death of his three teammates, Brenda Hollins shook her head and said 'no,' adding that she can't bring herself to tell him at this time.
Read more »
Virginia football player Mike Hollins awake, alert after 2nd surgery following deadly shootingA University of Virginia football player continues his recovery after a deadly shooting occurred over the weekend.
Read more »
5 things to know for Nov. 17: House, Layoffs, UVA shooting, Ukraine, College rankings | CNNHere are 5️⃣ things to know for November 17. 1️⃣ House of Representatives 2️⃣ Tech layoffs 3️⃣ UVA shooting 4️⃣ Biden responds to Zelensky 5️⃣ College rankings
Read more »
UVA to hold memorial service Saturday for 3 football players shot and killedUniversity of Virginia President Jim Ryan announced the memorial service will take place Saturday at 3:30 p.m. at John Paul Jones Arena.
Read more »
Witness: One of Sunday's UVA Victims Was Asleep When Fatally ShotOne of the University of Virginia football players who was shot in Sunday’s attack was asleep when Christopher Darnell Jones allegedly shot him.
Read more »
Pelicans' Trey Murphy III dedicates performances to UVA shooting victimsFormer University of Virginia player Trey Murphy III dedicated his recent New Orleans Pelicans performances to Sunday's shooting victims.
Read more »