ORANGE, Texas — Immediately after he pulled the shotgun's trigger he regretted his decision.
Korey Burris, of Orange, was 17-years-old at the time of his 1994 suicide attempt.
Twenty five years after attempting suicide and multiple surgeries later Burris, now 42, has focused his life on helping others who may be contemplating the same decision.
Burris says when he was young he knew his father had only wanted a single child household.
"My mother was on birth control and my dad only wanted one child and I have an older brother," Burris said.
At the age of 16, Burris' best friend committed suicide. He says it was devastating and vowed to never do something like that. But a year later, on January 8, 1994, Burris tried to kill himself.
MORE | Korey Burris' Facebook group Suicide Prevention and God’s Helper’s
MORE | CDC reports suicide on the rise nation-wide
GET HELP | National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 800-273-8255
GET HELP | Crisis Center of Southeast Texas
He says he could not take the abuse he received from a family member.
So a week before his attempt, he placed a shell from his brother’s shotgun on his TV stand. It served as a reminder of what was to come.
His mother found him on the couch, bloody and a mess.
Burris was flown to University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston.
He underwent 54 surgeries and spent a couple of months in the hospital. When he was finally released and went back to school, he says people were staring and whispering about him. Burris says he wouldn’t let that get him down.
"I told myself, I have two options. I can go be a recluse or I can live my life."
Burris battled with depression and drugs. He was in and out of rehab, and through all that, found his purpose in life.
Now he uses his experience to help others overcome some of the darkest times in their life. He uses an online ministry, Suicide Prevention and God’s Helper’s, to reach out to people all over the world.
He says he has forgiven the man who abused him.
If you know someone who is having suicidal thoughts or are having them yourself, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.
You can also reach out to Burris online day and night.