I would like to welcome the Stubblefield family
and Katie Stubblefield to the stage.
[Applause]
Well, thank you all so much for being here.
We really appreciate your willingness to to share your story.
So I guess I want to start with what everybody wants to know.
Katie how are you doing?
[Inaudible]
Happy to be here. Happy to be here with all of the folks.
Why... why did you decide, I mean, this was a, you've heard,
I'm sure, everybody talking about your bravery
in coming forward, your willingness to tell this important story...
Why did you decide that you wanted to do that?
[Inaudible]
Just that your life is beautiful and that,
to be concise, what she was saying is that life is beautiful
and that how important life is,
and in whatever you're going through,
it's something that really ultimately is of a temporary nature.
Well, so, I mean that was one of the reasons that I know
Katie had talked about wanting to ultimately help counsel kids
who really feel pushed against the wall
who feel like they can't take it anymore.
And your message to them would be what?
[Inaudible]
Life is beautiful and precious.
And no matter what there's always someone to reach out to.
There's a friend... you know, whoever it might be,
might even be a complete stranger, she said, but
there's always somebody that you can reach out to
and convey your difficulties to.
So I wanted to ask you, Robin and Lisa,
a little bit because we see your journey in this documentary
and in this story as well. And our photographer, Maggie Steber,
who you spent a lot of time with, did describe you as being
a warrior for your daughter.
Is that how you felt? Like... like a warrior on a battlefield
going through something like this?
I think at times yes, because, you know...
March 25th, 2014, it is a parent, you know,
this was a parent's nightmare
and Katie's life wasn't just broken.
It was extremely shattered. And, you know,
when something's broken sometimes, you think,
well, that the doctors can fix that, but...
this was a lot more than broken, and
there's nothing more precious than family and our kids.
I think at times, you know, we were at first,
when it happened, I think I was in shock, definitely.
I was in shock, and then I didn't realize to the extent
until Memphis one day, they asked us to see our daughter's face.
And I didn't realize the extent, because I was just thinking,
Oh sure they can they can mend it, you know, plastic surgery.
You know.
And this is when you, when... right after the shooting
first happened and you were in Memphis.
Yeah I didn't... I don't think I realized the extent
because she was covered, you know, I just knew
that things were very... it was very fragile.
That... that might not even be the word I'm looking for,
but extremely fragile... fragile. And we didn't know
if she was even going to make it at that point.
But then when we were getting to some more stability.
We left the trauma and went to the step down in Memphis,
there was hope. And then one trauma doctor mentioned
to Rob and I one night, about a face transplant.
And, you know, we knew about transplants,
but I didn't know about a face transplant.
And so Rob and I both, kind of asking what...
what that was. But we were so new into the thing, right...
He just briefly said, it's the only thing that I can tell you
that we'll be able to give your daughter back life.
And then he kind of turned around looked at both of us
and said, "but if.. she would have to make it through so much
to even..." he's, " I should have, maybe... I should not have
even brought that up tonight," because this was in the early stages.
But as things progressed we knew, we read
and educated ourselves as much as we could
about what a face transplant was, but they still didn't know.
But yes, back to your question about being a warrior.
I mean, yeah, I mean... you'll do anything to fight for your kids.
And you know, I told Rob one time, I said,
"if I wasn't so old I could... exchange, you know..."
You're one of those moms that would just do anything for your kid.
You know, there is nothing you wouldn't do for your kid.
And, but... when we got here to the clinic you know,
I know Dr. Gastman was probably wondering, you know,
What...? We've got to forget about a face transplant,
we've got to keep her alive.
She was very fragile.
But, you know, as the weeks and months went by,
I think... somebody was asking me yesterday,
how many days we were in the hospital that first year.
I think it was about 258 straight before we got out.
But you know, I guess we... we are, we were warriors.
I mean, I don't think we would... we did anything that
most parents wouldn't do. You would, just...
whatever you have to do for your kids.
And you know, the miracle of Katie too, is that
neurologically she's there. She will get to go to college.
You know, we got to get that function back, that speech.
We have a lot more to go, but we've come so far,
and we're just so very grateful for the people
that have gotten Katie to this point, that I feel like
we just had the team here at the Clinic, you know, just...
the Metro people...There's so many people here
that have gotten Katie to this point, and yet,
we still have a journey to go. We're not there.
But we're so grateful and we wouldn't trade...
you know, she's here,
and I can't imagine life without my daughter.
You know, one of the things, as I...
as I've watched all of this unfold, has struck me
about all of you is this amazing resiliency, right?
Just to keep pushing... pushing through.
And you know, Katie, do you think you were brought up
to be this resilient as you've turned out to be?
[Inaudible]
She's forever grateful for...?
Amazing parents.
For amazing parents. Well I would agree with that.
She said it.
[Applause]
Rob tell me a little more about what about what she said,
that's, I know that's how she concluded.
We we raised our kids to live life to the fullest.
Katie just happened to take that literally.
[Laughter]
When she was young, I've shared this with different people,
but when she was young, she started playing soccer
when she was 4 years old. And she was, to illustrate it,
which really speaks volumes of the rest of her life till today,
you know, she's playing soccer when she 4 years old,
and with boys and girls in organized soccer leagues,
and we had a family member at the time who taught her,
some of you may understand this language...
taught her how to dip her shoulder against an opponent
and take them out. At a half time at one of her soccer games
when she 4 years, old her coach (I'll never forget it)
They're sitting there drinking their little sippy cups
and things like that, and taking a break, and the coach says,
Katie I need you do me a favor honey, in the second half
I need you to take it easy on the opponents, because
the mamas are complaining that you're hurting their little boys.
And they would go on to call her "the bulldozer."
But it just you know she was just...
oh she was stubborn as a mule.
But in a good way.
But she just had a lot of resiliency of life.
She approached life with everything.
A very passionate individual.
I'm... sure we'd love to take credit for it,
but you can't take credit for something that is...
just innate in her, in the spirit of this human being.
Her faith, her determination about life...
And when you have that type of personality, you know,
it can also be... your strength can be your weakness.
And I think she had a moment of that weakness when she was injured.
And also, I believe, instantaneously if you would,
it kind of turned on a dime to where, that same thing
that seemed to work against her, was also the same thing
that has carried her through. Even through till tonight.
Well, so this is going to be my last question
and what I'd like to do is invite people who have questions
for our entire panel.
We've got microphones on either side
and I believe there's a roving mic as well.
But while there while they're lining up,
I wanted to ask you all what is... what is next in this process?
I think, you know, everybody is pulling for you
everybody you know wants the very best
and I think people are also just curious about, well now what?
I think practically speaking, in the next couple of weeks,
we finally are moving out of the Ronald McDonald House.
And you know, for those are the Ronald McDonald House,
thanks for your patience.
[Applause]
They have put up with us.
Like I told somebody at the gathering while back,
we're just waiting for them to name a sandwich after us
because we've been there so long.
[Laughter]
Just don't call it Big Rob instead of Big Mac.
But, you know, we're doing that, and Katie's going on with care,
I know Dr. Gastman Dr. Papay and the team
are planning other adventures, surgically speaking.
We're moving ahead with rehabs and things of this nature,
but it's just... it's day by day, week by week, month by month
to continue improving life.
Well, let me just... let's thank the Stubblefields
for their insights and courageousness.
[Applause]