Sweet smells, exquisite desserts and a hometown feel make Karen Krasne's neighborhood cafe a must!

"I think that this is just like a sugar kingdom... people come in to get a fix," she says. "We have regulars that live in the neighborhood that come by everyday."

It was anything but a sweet night out for some customers when an armed gunman invaded the cafe and shot and killed a man.

"Everyone was torn and shocked and shattered," Karen recalls with tears in her eyes.

She had a tough decision to make... close up the shop of her dreams... or carry on...

"I had to continue the thought that, 'We have to move on, we have to carry on, we have to get through this,' " Karen says.

Doctor Gina Simmons is a licensed family therapist who specializes in trauma. She says overcoming tragedy can be tough... but it is possible.

"Some of the most important things that lead to healing and rapid recovery after a traumatic event are social support, so getting in touch with people that you can talk to about the incident," she says.

Everyone recovers at their own pace, but for some with severe symptoms, like nightmares, flashblacks or insomnia more than a month after the tragedy occurs, it may be wise to get some professional help.

"Whenever anyone is feeling incapable of continuing on with their life that's a sign that maybe recovery isn't where it needs to be," says Simmons.

Doctor Simmons says the key to overcoming a negative experience is finding treasure in the trauma.

"I think what people are most helped by is finding meaning from that experience." she says.

After the shooting, Karen decided to spend more time with her family.

"Perhaps this experience was something I needed to shock me, to maybe take me off my course a little bit and identify what was most important to me in my life... beyond working," she says.

Wise words from a woman who found meaning in the madness.