| That's what she said |
|
|
| Written by Rebecca McNally | |
|
Sometimes it takes a huge event in our life to change our perception. It is sad that we tend to learn the most when something goes wrong. There is a saying, I believe it goes like this: an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Sometimes, this prevention is worth everything that you could have ever known. Jenny was the third daughter out of five. All she ever wanted to be was a mother. It took her a while, but her dream came true when she had her baby boy, JJ. After a long time of trying again, she had Riley about seven years later. Jenny was a Kindergarten teacher. She was in the process of moving her husband, JJ (age 8) and Riley (18 months) into a new house. She had already called a substitute teacher in for that Friday to get everything ready for the move that weekend. Thursday, the day before the three-day weekend, Jenny went through her regular routine. She put her two children into the car. The first stop was the daycare to drop Riley off before she and JJ went to school. Less than a mile away from their destination, an unfortunate mishap changed one life forever and ended the other’s life. The weather was snowy and icy. The car hit some black ice and Jenny lost control. She went spinning to the side of the road. In the process, she flew out of the front windshield and JJ through the back one. It happened suddenly and was over quickly. Not long after, a neighbor drove up on the scene. She immediately recognized the vehicle and ran over to JJ to make sure that he was okay. After she realized that he was still alive, she went to his mother. Jenny was in bad condition. She was trying hard to hold on. She worked up the energy to say one word: “JJ?” The neighbor said, “JJ is going to be okay.” Then Jenny breathed her last breath. She was officially pronounced dead at Springfield hospital after she was life-lined there. My cousin (JJ and Riley’s mother) died that day. She was an amazing person, but one mistake ended her life. She was usually very adamant about wearing her seatbelt, but I guess since they were so close to school, she let her guard down. And for this very reason, she isn’t with us today. Seat belts are very easy to forget, but make it a habit to wear yours. Twenty percent of people killed in car accidents weren’t wearing theirs. Seat belts ensure that you aren’t ejected. They evenly distribute the impact that an accident would have on your body. Also, encourage others to wear theirs also, especially if you are the driver. Don’t assume that nothing could happen when you are so close to your destination. Take Jenny’s story to heart, and remember that it only takes a split second for something to go wrong. Buckle up and be safe. |
| < Prev | Next > |
|---|