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Welcome to assignment on the BBC World Service.

I'm Hilary Anderson.

This is the story of a family devastated by the mass shooting

at Sandy Hook Elementary School in America.

And it's the story of another family coping with mental illness

in a country where millions don't get the mental health care they need.

Daniel Barton, a seven-year-old from a quaint little town in Connecticut,

used to sing in his family band, with his brother, sister, and his dad Mark,

who's a musician.

Daniel was a happy little guy.

On a Friday, December 14th, in their four-bedroom house,

Daniel's dad, Mark, woke up to get his 12-year-old James ready for the school bus.

But Daniel was already up.

We were walking down the driveway and we heard these little footsteps behind us.

And Daniel had gotten up early and in his little pajamas and he put some flip-flops on his feet

so he could get out the door in time because it was 20 degrees out and he came running down the driveway

because he wanted to hug and kiss his brother goodbye.

Daniel then snuggled up with his dad on the couch until the sun rose.

Then he got ready for his own journey to school.

...