Sandy Hook Mom Named as One of ’25 Women Changing the World’

I could never begin to imagine the emotional devastation that a parent goes through when their innocent child departs this earth long before their time.

Nicole Hockley is one of those parents who lost her 6-year-old, Dylan, on Dec.14, 2012 during the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings. How did Nicole manage? How does any parent survive such a devastating tragedy like the 20 moms and dads in Sandy Hook who are faced with that every single day? Nicole decided to fight back by finding her voice. She has taken her overwhelming grief and has channeled it into a mission. That mission is to do her very best to protect other children from gun violence.

She, along with other Sandy Hook parents, founded Sandy Hook Promise, whose goal is to prevent gun-related deaths due to crime, suicide, and accidental discharge so that no other parent experiences the senseless, horrific loss of a child. Because of her never ending quest, she has been recognized by People Magazine as one of the "25 Women Changing the World." Other women that were recognized include, Salma Hayek, Jennifer Garner, and Oprah Winfrey. This was what Nicole told People Magazine,

Dylan is with me everyday in my heart. The more I learned about his death, and the person who took his life, I recognized there were signs for years and multiple opportunities for intervention.

Last week, Nicole said it feels like "a punch in the gut" referring to Congress doing nothing to protect other children from gun violence like her 6-year-old, Dylan.

Our thoughts are with you as you continue your battle by encouraging and supporting solutions that will create safer schools, homes, and communities.