Ep 23. Florida School Board Shooting/Wanda

In I Survived season 9 episode 23, titled "Florida School Board Shooting/Wanda," viewers are introduced to two individuals who have faced life-threatening experiences and survived.

The first story follows the events of the 2010 shooting that took place at a Florida school board meeting. Immediately following a presentation by a local teacher, 56-year-old Clay Duke stood up from his seat and revealed a gun, taking the six members of the board hostage. The altercation quickly turned violent when Duke opened fire on the board members, hitting multiple people in the room.

One of the survivors of this senseless attack is Ginger Littleton, a member of the board who can recall the moment she realized what was happening as if it were yesterday. In her interview, she describes the panic she felt as she tried to assess the situation and come up with a plan of action. Desperate to protect her colleagues, she picked up the only weapon she had - her purse - and stepped up to confront the gunman.

Littleton's brave actions caught Duke off-guard, and she was able to temporarily distract and disarm him. While things could have ended very differently for Littleton and the others in the room, the heroic actions of a security officer ultimately took down Duke before he could do any more harm.

The second story follows the tale of Wanda Dench, a woman who was involved in a terrible car accident that left her with severe burns and an intense emotional toll. While driving home from work in 2008, Wanda was struck by a car that ran a red light, causing her to be trapped in her vehicle as it erupted into flames.

Wanda describes the intense pain she endured as a result of the burns she suffered over the majority of her body. To make matters worse, she had also lost her husband to a stroke just weeks before the accident, leaving her feeling lost and alone. With the help of her family and friends, Wanda was able to begin the long road to recovery, enduring dozens of surgeries and physical therapy sessions.

Despite the incredible challenges, Wanda was determined to rebuild her life in the wake of the tragic accident. She found purpose in devoting herself to helping others and founded the Wanda's Wish foundation, which is aimed at providing grants to aid burn survivors and their families.

Through these two gripping tales of survival, viewers are reminded of the resiliency and strength that can be found within each and every one of us. In the face of tragedy and adversity, Ginger Littleton and Wanda Dench both show the power of the human spirit and the capacity for hope and healing.