Ezinne Ukoha, I am so glad to see that you wrote this. Out of all the events and pictures of the past week, this is the one I can’t get out of my mind. To me this was nothing less than an inherent response. Sadly, the skill to carry it out has no doubt been learned over time, ingrained by every negative interaction. People talk about a parents instinct to protect their children, well, this is that in action.

Having been a paramedic for over twelve years, I have seen every response imaginable to most every horror one can dream up, and usually they are all normal, since grief, fear, and stress responses are as unique as we are individual. In this case, I can say with assurance, this woman’s reaction had zero to do with a lack of “appropriate emotion” and everything to do with a goal of protecting her child and getting out alive.

You are right, this woman is a hero. One who has been pushed front and center in an event most of those criticizing could not even conceive of. If you can’t offer her support, then shut the fuck up.