(WHAS11) Erica Hughes is as inquisitive and spirited as ever. It's rare to see her without a smile on her face.
She's a fun 6 year old with a big heart. And while helping to raise money for the 'Just for Kids' Radiothon, which helps Kosair Children's Hospital, she met Reese, a patient there and the two went straight to the gift shop.
"I bought him a videocamera," said Erica Hughes. That's Erica; kind and generous.
And Christopher 2X, with Fight Crimes Against Children, said that's what spurned what he calls the "second story" of Erica Hughes.
The "first story" began four years ago, when her mother Earon Harper was killed and Erica shot five times, including once in the head.
"She suffers from not only gun shot wounds, but psychologically the permanent scar of losing her right eye," said 2X. "A bigger thing that she feels on a regular basis, is that she's not connected to her mother's energies anymore and that her mother won't be with her phsycially anymore."
Her "second story" involves protecting other children.
Erica has plans to launch a major campaign advocating child safety. You'll hear Public Service Announcements and see billboards, starting this summer.
She also hopes to raise awareness about brain injuries, since she suffered a gun shot wound to the head. 2X said her second story will resonate with the community, much like her first story.
"To show everyone that even in tragedy there's a lesson to be learned, and that's about a person's will to survive and bring about positive energy through that survival," said 2X.
Helping others is her passion, but she says it's not her only love.
"You like to cook? What's your favorite thing to cook?" we asked. "Macaroni and cheese," she said.
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