The mother of a 20-year old woman who was tragically shot and murdered has penned a touching letter to her killer detailing how she refused to have an abortion when she was pregnant with her daughter.
Police say that Milan Arriola wasn’t the intended victim when 20-year-old Will Reed gunned her down while she drove her car on a New Orleans street earlier this month.
They say the 20-year-old was killed as a result of an ongoing feud between the shooter and someone else. Reed has been charged with second degree murder.
After her death, Milan’s mother, Imani Ruffins, penned a touching letter to her daughter’s killer on her Facebook page.
The letter recounted Milan’s life from the time Imani became pregnant with her.
“From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I prayed EVERY DAY. I prayed for “a girl” A humble, happy, healthy girl, in that order,” she wrote.
“You see, how amazing God is? He gave me EXACTLY what I asked for,” she said.
The grieving mother described the time when she was told by doctors to have abortion because of contracting chick pocks and fear that her daughter would be born with disabilities.
Imani refused to have the abortion writing, “the Dr. told me my unborn child was gonna be retarded, blind and probably deaf and I should probably have an abortion, but I said no. No because I knew God heard my prayers. My faith out weighed everything.”
She ended the letter with these words, “I thank God for 20 years with my first child, my only daughter, my best friend. No one, not even you Will Reed can take that away from me and everyone who had the pleasure of sharing her life.
The full text is written below:
“A letter to my daughter’s killer”
I’m sharing this today, because TODAY was a good day.
I want you to know that in spite of you changing my life forever, I don’t hate you. I feel sorry for you. Sorry that you’ve never experienced the love that Milan experienced, not only from her family and friends, but coworkers, classmates and random strangers.
An unconditional, heart pounding, take your breath away type of love. I’m certain you haven’t experienced this because you had no regard or appreciation for life.
Milan was loved by so many people, she had the brightness smile. Contagious. Like a sneeze.
From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I prayed EVERY DAY. I prayed for “a girl” A humble, happy, healthy girl, in that order. I prayed that she had her dads soft spoken spirit, his humbleness, his smarts. I prayed that she had my eyes, my smile, my silliness.
You see, how amazing God is? He gave me EXACTLY what I asked for. It’s kinda of funny because when I was a few months pregnant I contracted chicken pox, the Dr. told me my unborn child was gonna be retarded, blind and probably deaf and I should probably have an abortion, but I said no. No because I knew God heard my prayers. My faith out weighed everything.
Every day from August 27, 1994 until July 3, 2015 I told Milan Domonique Arriola “I LOVE YOU” sometimes multiple times. For 2o years, EVERYDAY I talked to her whether via text, phone or face to face.
I thank God for 20 years with my first child, my only daughter, my best friend. No one, not even you Will Reed can take that away from me and everyone who had the pleasure of sharing her life.
So TODAY I’ll pray for you, that God has mercy on your soul.
KPLC 7 News, Lake Charles, Louisiana
Please pray for this family.
LifeNews Note:Reprinted courtesy Life Dynamics.
