Friday, December 30, 2011

A Timely and True Story..

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My niece Jennifer and her family today..
This is her story, told by her friend Shannon..


Those of you who know me personally know that I have one child by birth. My lovely daughter Margeaux. Some though, don't know that I have another family. Jennifer Holland came into my life when she was 17 and I was 27. I became the grandmother to her children since she lost her mother to cancer when she was 12. Their names are Farrin, Shaylynn and Billy.

2005 they went to a Christmas parade. On the way home they were hit by a drunk driver. Billy, my five year old grandson will never be the same. He almost lost his life and had to live without his skull cap for almost a year since his brain had swollen do to extensive injuries. My granddaughter Shaylynn's leg was broken and Farrin....well, Farrin is now 16. This Christmas she gave her mother a letter. The letter was about her life. She wrote from the time she could remember until this year. I read the letter and could not stop myself from crying. The drunk driver who hit them has now died from a liver disease. What he left in the wake of his life will forever show its damages to my grandchildren. Billy has half the use of the left side of his body. His ability to learn is much slower than it should be at 11. Shaylynn has healed but will never forget the terror of that night and Farrin.....Farrin wrote in the letter that her reality is she may never be able to carry the weight of a child growing inside her. Her broken hips have given her little ability to live life without constant pain.

Their mother Jennifer.... It is not always easy to get her to tell you what her injuries were. She doesn't focus on what she went through except for the emotional pain of watching her children suffer. I kow though that she lives in a prison of pain that she cannot escape from. Rarely though does she ever complain. Her cup is half full because she knows she has the life of her children and so many mothers have lost their own families to drunk driving.

I have been guilty of driving with a buzz. I was lucky I didn't kill myself or anyone else. Being intelligent, fun, cool...that has nothing to do with stupidity and having the willingness to take someone else's life. You can take someone else's life without stopping their heartbeat. You can do it by marring them for life.

I am making the choice to not be that person.

Remember...
There is no such thing as an accident if you are drinking and driving. You make the decision to drive impaired before you get drunk. You make the decision with a clear head to live with your choice or to die with it.



8 comments:

  1. This is so important. I appreciate that you took the time to share this, Loui. Thank you!

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  2. Thank you for sharing such an amazing story. It brought tears to my eyes.

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  3. This is a shocking story and it is good of you to share it in hope of keeping other people safe.

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  4. Beautiful photo.. Thank's for sharing the story:)

    Visiting for MYM! Here's mine- hope you can visit too:)

    http://www.heavenly-dreams.com/mr-m-m-on-halloween/

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  5. So, so timely with New Year's Eve coming. Our family is certainly familiar with the pain of an accident that leaves everyone's lives very different.

    Have a happy New Year! We won't be venturing out this year.

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  6. Just one drink can ruin or seriously change lives. So sad to read this story, and my heart goes out to this family.

    Tipsy drivers can get free Taxi fare or a free tow from AAA Tow To Go in most US cities.

    Be Safe and Have a Happy New Year!!!

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  7. How appropriate a reminder that when you get behind a wheel you're not just risking your own life, but others' as well! What a tragic thing for such young kids to go through... thankfully they survived, but to live with such consequences can't be easy!

    I'm heading out tonight to celebrate with friends, but I won't be driving home until tomorrow! I'm crashing on a friend's couch tonight (since we're partying in their town). I'm not just worried about my driving (which I can influence since if I were to drive I wouldn't drink more than one drink at the beginning of the evening and then it would all soft drinks or water after that), I'm worried about other drivers! It's the most dangerous night of the year to get behind the wheel... I'm going to have to be extra careful when driving to my friend's house after having dinner with my family.

    On a more cheerful note: you were in Spain in the '80s?! What fun!!! In time for the World Cup action in '82? I missed out on that... we only came for a few weeks that summer and not at the right time...

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  8. Love, Love your Mermaid Christmas card!

    Have a beautiful, bright and

    Happy New Year!

    Linda
    Sand and Sea
    (aka beachside cottage)

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welcome to my world of salty sunkissed breezes..
where time is not measured..
linger leisurely..
sift sugary white sand between your toes..
Make and take those wonderful memories..
leaving behind..only your footprints...