The Enduring Grief of Losing a Child to Gun Violence

Outdoor photo exhibit across from PPMC captures mothers’ pain

A powerful photo installation in Saunders Park across from Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, on display for several weeks this summer, captured the grief and pain of some of the many Philadelphia-area mothers who have lost children to gun violence. Affixed to the outside of the iron fence around the park, 30 large photos on vinyl panels – some with quotes from the grieving mothers – were introduced to the community on July 21 in an event that included remarks from photographer Kathy Shorr, some of the mothers featured, two city council members, two state senators, and PPMC Emergency Medicine physician Chidinma C. Nwakanma, MD, who has been vocal and active in gun violence prevention. She shared a message for the grieving mothers:

“There’s something that happens when someone comes in and they know they’re going to die – they call out for their mothers,” Nwakanma told the audience. “I’m standing here as a physician, a black woman, a community member, and hopefully as a future mother, and I salute you all for surviving. I grieve with you."

The photos were part of “Shot: We the Mothers,” a project by Shorr featuring 51 Philadelphia-area mothers photographed at locations that held a special meaning to their child. Mural Arts Philadelphia partnered with Shorr’s group to create the public exhibition, with funding from the city, and in partnership with PPMC and the People’s Emergency Center, a West Philadelphia nonprofit that helps people experiencing homelessness.

“As a level 1 trauma center, we deal with acute and tragic violence every day. There is also a human story behind this societal tragedy,” said PPMC Assistant Executive Director Gary K. Ginsberg. “We hope this display brought home the faces behind this trauma and the human impact this has on us all.”