This Thanksgiving break was supposed to be about reconnecting with friends and spending time with her family. For 18 year old Zaniyah Broadbelt-Joseph, a proud first semester freshman at the Delaware State University, it was her first trip home since starting her college journey - a chance to reconnect with childhood friends, share stories from campus, and enjoy laughing over a meal.

But on the evening of November 26th at 7:30pm, everything changed in an instant.

Zaniyah was on her way to meet her high school friends for dinner - their first time all together since heading off to their separate universities, but she never made it. Only a few subway stops from home in downtown Brooklyn, she was caught in a senseless act of violence when she was shot by a stray bullet during an incident she had no connection to. She was simply walking to a restaurant with her friend, who also was injured by a bullet shot.

Zaniyah was shot in her upper thigh, her femur fractured and the bullet is unable to be removed. We are grateful the bullet did not find it's mark any higher up in her young body.

Zaniyah has a long road of recovery, from physical to psychological, ahead of her. She was discharged from the hospital Friday, but cannot walk, go up stairs, put weight on her leg, or lay/sit comfortably. She is unable to return to school at Delaware State University to finish the first semester, as she has months of intensive care and physical therapy ahead of her. For the foreseeable future her main focus will be on healing, physically and emotionally. Her family, who is beyond grateful Zaniyah is still with them, are facing upcoming medical expenses.

No kid should have to worry about not making it home. No kid should have to wake up from nightmares that she's being chased and in so much pain.

Anyone who knows Zaniayh knows how amazing she is. And anyone who knows her grandmother, Gina, and her parents Tasha and Darnell, knows how proud she and her family are of Zaniyah and all of her accomplishments. Zaniyah has just begun her life outside of Brooklyn where she grew up and she is eager to get back to what college has to offer her.

Zaniyah is a strong young woman, but she and her family could definitely use your support during this difficult time. Let's set Zaniyah up the best we can so she can get back to school, and get that interior design degree as well as continue cheering!