'I'm going to miss her a lot': Durham teen returns home after being shot 7 times trying to protect her 5-year-old cousin

Destiny Sidberry, 15, was greeted by friends and family at Rockwood Park after returning home from the hospital.

Now she's back with friends and family after having bullets surgically removed from her chest and arm.

Destiny was able to hug her aunt, Brittany Dash, the mother of Khloe. This was their first time seeing each other since Destiny got out of the hospital.

"In order for me to grieve right, I had to see my aunt so we could do that big cry together," Destiny said. "Because even though it was her daughter, [Khloe] was like a little sister to me."

Destiny's cousin Khloe, whom she was babysitting, did not survive the shooting.

The teen was presented a letter from the Durham mayor as a sash with "Our Hero" on it. Destiny's mom, Keedrah Sidberry, said that's what she's always been: A hero.

"If you ask her would you do it again, she’ll say yes," said Destiny's mom, Keedrah Sidberry. "That’s what she said. She said, 'For my family, yes.'"

Her mom said that's what Destiny has always been: A hero.

"I commend her," Keedrah said. "Because a lot of people, adults, wouldn't even have taken one bullet, let alone seven."

Destiny said on that day, she didn't think; she just acted. 

She said Saturday's homecoming doesn't feel like it's just for her. Destiny said it was a way to say goodbye to her little cousin, Khloe.

"I'm going to miss her a lot," Destiny said.

Autopsy: Man arrested for killing 5-year-old girl called 911 moments before shooting; babysitter pushed 18-month-old into closet then used body to shield cousin from bullets

Luster, a cousin of Brittany Dash, Khloe's mother, was living with them at the time of the shooting.

The autopsy report stated that before the shooting happened, Luster called 911 to report an overdose. During that call, he began arguing with Destiny and went into Dash's room to grab her gun, according to the autopsy report.

The autopsy report stated that Destiny managed to shield an 18-month-old from the gunfire by pushing the toddler into a closet. The report stated that after Destiny got the child into the closet, she then attempted to shield Khloe with her own body.

Despite it all, Destiny said her "destiny" is to open her own daycare one day.

As for the road ahead, she will get the cast on her arm off in a few weeks and she'll be at home for her first semester of high school.