(WPLG/CNN) - The Parkland school shooting has impacted one Broward County deputy particularly hard.
Deputy Brenda Louis has been on the force for two years.
FULL COVERAGE: Parkland school shooting
She's also the mom of a 16-year-old and can relate to what many moms and dads felt on Feb. 14.
"It just hit me really hard. I don't know how long I cried, but I cried," said Louis.
Seventeen people, most of them children, would never return home that day.
Medics raced the injured to area hospitals, including 15-year-old Kyle Laman, who was shot in the leg.
Louis would later be assigned to a detail at Broward Health on Kyle's floor.
"When Kyle came out from surgery, I just felt it in my heart. It was really heavy in me to pray for him. And my sister actually texted me, and she was like 'You need to pray for these kids. You were placed there for a reason.' I just took a risk, and I asked the mom and the dad, 'Is it OK if I pray for Kyle?' And they were very ecstatic. They were happy and were like, 'Of course you can.' I had no idea they were going to take this picture of me," said Louis.
A picture shows her by Kyle’s bedside with her eyes are closed, so she doesn’t know who took the picture.
She's said she was speaking to the injured boy, but she can't recall what she said. Her hand was gently resting on Kyle's leg when the picture was taken.
Louis said she and God were having a conversation.
"I just believe prayer is very powerful," Louis said
For everyone hit by this tragedy, she said she'll keep praying.
"It's going to be hard. I guarantee you that it's going to be extremely hard. But just prayer and knowing that God is there, they're going to get through it," said Louis.
The deputy said she hasn't actually spoken with Kyle yet. That's something she's planning to do as soon as her schedule allows her to get back to the hospital.
Broward County school officials plan to re-open Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School to staff members Thursday.
Courtesy: WPLG via CNN Newsource
