My dental hygieniest is the sweetest woman on this planet. She really is. I remember the first day I stepped foot into the dentist office, she was one of the people I met at the front desk. She was there very chipper and upbeat.
We became instant friends. I'm not sure if this has ever happened to you. You meet someone and you instantly bond. In our conversations we found that we had a great deal in common. We LOVE our family more than anything in this world.
We would often have chats about our kids, our husbands, family in general. Each and every time we spoke, we became closer and on more of a friendship level.
Fast forward to December 22, 2007. She and her kids (daughter and son) were riding their bikes, enjoying family time together. Her husband was away at work as he often is for 3-4 days out of the week. She and her kids were crossing the street. She and her daughter made it across, her son never made it across, a Ford F150 truck ran him over. His 5 year old body was run over by a truck.
My husband and son were on their way home and bypassed the incident. My husband brought DJ in the house and said, "I'll be right back. A little boy has been hit on the corner!"
Yes, on the corner of my house where I live. Needless to say, I kept DJ busy all the while thinking in my heart about where my husband was off to witness.
He came back and recalled the words of the little girl. She cried out, "I need my brother, someone help me. Please, help me. I need my brother. Please don't let him die."
I was stunned and felt the worst pit in my stomach over hearing the news. A 5 year old little boy's body lay limp in the road after being run over by a truck. The next morning, I drove past the scene and prayed. I began to sob thinking to myself, wow, a little boy is gone. I can't even imagine what his parent's are going through right now. What happened? The newspaper printed a small article about the incident. The driver was a 20 year old married man with his wife and baby in the car at the time. The article mentioned the little boys name, but, the name didn't click. The next morning, there were flowers and candles at the wall of the incident set up like a memorial site.
I put a candle and card out on the site. The next day the father called to thank us and told my husband if he had kids to kiss them and hold them tight every single day. Needless to say this conversation choked my husband up. I went to the memorial site again to pray and I left another candle and card with my contact information with my cellphone number telling them I would like help. Please, contact me.
In anyway I can. I am the worst when it comes to words of comfort. I was thinking maybe they would get my card and trash it. Thinking they will say to themselves, How can you help me? I lost my son. How can you help me? Well, at least that's what I was thinking they would feel. The husband called me a few hours later in tears.
He said, "you know my wife." My heart dropped. I couldn't understand what he meant.
He said, "my wife. you're her patient. She's your hygienist. It was my son that was killed." He told me his wife wanted me to come ASAP.
I froze. How could this be? How could this happen? So close to home. So close to someone I know. Someone I just met. Someone that always gave the best advice about raising a son.
I asked my husband what should I say, what should I do? He said, first of all, stop crying and just go and see your friend. She wouldn't have asked for you to come over if she didn't want you there.
Once I got over there, I held my friend so tight. I'm sure I had no words that made any sense of comfort. I can't even remember what I said. She said, I am so glad you're here. There's a reason why we met, there's a reason why all of this has happened. I have no idea how I'm going to get through this. And in that instant, we shared a complete room of silence and it seemed to be the best idea at the time.
I see the memorial every day I leave my home. It's filled with flowers, candles, stuffed animals and more. It's right at the entrance of my housing tract. There's a sign with a cross in the middle and the words in bold: FORGIVENESS.
The words ring in my ears on a daily basis. Kiss and hug your babies tight. Every.single.day. With that, I am going to pass on the same advice. Please, kiss and hug your babies tight. Every single day.
LinkWithin
29 comments:
I hate hearing things like this, but although they are unfortunate events, they teach us lessons. Poor baby :-(.
This is so sad...my condolences to your friend. I hope her lil boy rests in peace.
My goodness, three days before christmas. She will forever be in my prayers.
When I was a little girl my five year old cousin and my aunt were riding bikes and got hit by a truck, my aunt lived but my cousin did not. It will forever stay with me.
about seven years later my other thirteen year old cousin was at a sleepover and went out with her friends for snacks, as they crossed the highway, my cousin was killed by a truck.
They are stories I wish no one ever had to tell.
Bless that family.
Maribeth , www.marnini.wordpress.com
I got chills reading this story. It is a reminder to be grateful and to forgive. As we all strive to be more like Him. Thank you for sharing this.
Girl, we are all here for a purpose and sometimes we never know what it is until we are living it. If you never reach another personal goal, or get to complete another resolution, know in your heart, that you were where God needed you to be when your friend needed you. So many times we count our existence by what we have done. It's not about that all the time, sometimes you just need to be available. I learned that lesson twice in my life. Being busy is not always what God wants for us, but being available is the only way he can use us.
that's beautiful that you are there for her tan.
Wow! My heart goes out to all of you.
Oh Tanyetta, what an awful thing for you and your family and the hygienist's family to endure. I'll give my babies a hug today. Thanks for the reminder.
This is so terrible but I too am really bad at giving words of comfort. I'd rather physically comfort someone rather than verbally.
that is so terrible -
I'll think about her today.
You did good, Tanyetta. Sometimes the best think to say is nothing.
This post left me speechless. What a terrible thing to have to go thru. God bless you for being there for your friend and I pray that she gets thru this and is stronger than ever.
I find it odd that I found your blog today because something told me to hug my baby girl tight before we left the house this morning and because of this post I will make sure to do it every single day. Thank you
wow. that's all I can say. My heart and payers go out to them... and to you for being such an amazing friend.
wow. that's all I can say. My heart and payers go out to them... and to you for being such an amazing friend.
my prayers are with this family. so sad. :(
This is sad, my prayers go out to her and her family and also to you and your family. That is very heart wrenching.
I guess God had you meet her at the right time because he knew she would need you at that moment.
I don't know why this baby had to die but I thank God for having you on stand by.
Blessings!
*eyes filled with tears*
Blessings to you, and your friendship.
I have to post about this and will link here.
so incredibly sad. isnt that our worst fear, to out live our children? my heart and prayers goes out to them.
That is just the worst thing that could happen to aperson. I'm not sure if a parent ever heals completely after they've lost a child, let alone forgive the person responsible.
That's a heartbreaking situation and I'm sure that your friend is grateful that you're there, willing to help.
I have this weird thing that I do and I don't know why. I always make sure that whenever I leave Connor, I hug and tell him that I love him. I do it because if something ever happens to me while I'm away from him, I want that to be the last thing said. It may sound stupid, but it gives me peace of mind.
Tanyetta- this was a very touching post. So sad for this little boy and his family. Tragic. I love your message of hugging and kissing your babies everyday. You just never know when our time on earth is up. You were a good friend who was there for her. It's hard to know what to say. I believe we will be with our loved ones after we die, but not everyone believes that so sometimes finding words of comfort is hard. I'm glad that sweet mom has you.
WOW! I don't even know what to say. But I am going to take your advice.
What a tragic event. It's a blessing that you were there for her.
tragedies like this are hard to understand. I just can't.
So very heartbreaking...
Came by way of Rosemarie.
this is a touching post and i too, am always at a loss when small children are taken. I send my prayers to the family and also to you.
I'm hugging my kids right now. Life is so precious and so fragile.
I'm hugging my kids right now. Life is so precious and so fragile.
Oh Tanyetta, I'm praying for this family right now. You are obviously a wonderful friend. I'm so glad your hygienist has you.
I agree that words of comfort are the hardest to give. But being there, holding her, saying something, saying nothing, that's what matters. More than anything, your friend needed to feel God's love, and through you she did.
May we all be an instrument in God's hands. I'll go hug my kids now.
This is so heartwrenching, such a heartbreaking thing to have to go through. I'm sure it was so very comforting to the mother that you cared enough to visit the memorial, and even more so when you came in person when she needed you. What a great friend you are. You're awesome.
God, that made me bawl! that poor woman! the same thing happened to my best friend's little brother when we were young and I still remember that day so clearly.
Post a Comment