Violent attack has forever changed her life

Because it's our job to report quickly, accurately and with an unbiased viewpoint, many journalists, including myself, have become callused.

Thousands of hours working next to a blaring police scanner often turns car accidents, fights and threats into a race to post a story to the Web. Crimes become less shocking. Blood becomes less bloody. And if we don't catch ourselves, we become less sensitive.

Five months into covering one of the gravest, most horrible crimes to ever hit a local school, I thought I'd effectively separated fact from feeling - until last Wednesday, when family and consumer science teacher Carolyn Gilbert took the stand to read a victim impact statement on the Jan. 18 attack by Angel Facio, her former student.

In Gilbert's Elgin High yearbook photo, which we've ran countless times in articles about the attack, the curly-haired educator smiles serenely.

In court last Wednesday, Gilbert told Judge Edward Pietrucha that that serenity was gone. And likely permanently.

Gilbert's hands trembled as she read the prepared statement. Her voice cracked. She paused several times.

After suffering severe puncture wounds to the head and neck, Gilbert had to undergo surgery to remove her right eye Feb 1. She now wears a prosthetic piece.

In addition to burning scars, several eye surgeries and a loss of depth perception, Gilbert said she has not slept through the night in five months and has trouble handling knives when cooking or eating.

"My carefree attitude has changed. My sense of safety has been affected. I always find myself looking behind me," she said.

"It is always in the back of my mind that he will come and get me when he gets out."

"I know," Gilbert concluded, "that he is a juvenile and being a high school teacher I would be the first to have an open mind and heart. But ... I'm seriously worried he will complete what he started with me and kill someone."

After five months of public silence, Gilbert's speech served as a jolt.

Not only was the attack a horrible crime, but it was done to a wonderful, well-loved teacher. That identity, amid reports of stab wounds and prison sentences and other grisly things, often got overlooked in media coverage.

We, as reporters, sometimes need to be reminded that there are more than just facts to the story. There's feeling too - even from the most unbiased vantage point.

Thank you, Carolyn, for teaching us that.

Kerry Lester covers Elgin Area School District U-46, Elgin Community College, District 301 and Fox Valley private schools. E-mail her at klester@dailyherald.com or call (847) 608-2722.