Tragic loss---prayers needed

It seems the prayer requests have been filled with much sadness lately. I regret to have to add to that.


Our friends from church lost their daughter last night to a car accident. There were 5 kids driving home after a party, at 2:00 am. The driver lost control of the car and hit a tree. And yes, police believe alcohol was involved. Holly was 17 years old, a senior. An 18 year old died as well, and one is in intensive care. Please pray for them as well.


I have known Holly since she was a little girl...watched her grow up within our church, and she was the sister of one of my oldest son Brendan's good friends growing up. They played soccer together and went to religious ed. classes together, and played at each other's houses a lot, so naturally I got to know the parents very well, and their daughter. We grew apart after the boys grew apart once they hit high school, and went to separate schools.

I just can't get Holly's little face out of my mind. She was such a pretty girl. I know it sounds cliche, but she really was the type of child who always had a smile on her face. She wanted to 'hang out' with her mom and I all the time....I learned what a sweet and loving child she was. I didn't know her in her teen years, but I can imagine that she was an amazing young woman. I'm having such a hard time processing this....I can't believe this beautiful young lady is gone, and so needlessly. My heart is just breaking for her family and the tears won't stop flowing. Her parents are incredible people, and she was always the apple of her older brother's eye (the family only has two children)....they were both very close.

We are due to get the worst storm we've had in years....I can imagine many friends and family aren't going to be able to make it to the funeral because of it. Please pray about that too. I am going to do my best to get there. Unfortunately my son is off at college and there's no way he'll be able to travel back in this upcoming weather.


Here is the article with the latest...


http://www.wilx.com/home/headlines/114907119.html


Thank you in advance for your prayers everyone.

Oh gosh, what a horrible tragedy. I'm so sorry, Amy. That's so terribly sad. And as you said - so needless. The family has my prayers - and so do you and your family.

Thank you Savannah. I actually had that information wrong....it was Saturday night that the accident happened, which makes sense, since this happened after a party. I just learned of it this morning so I thought it was last night.

And yes, it's the 'needless' and 'senseless' part that I am struggling with. Holly was one of the ones who didn't have her seatbelt on and was ejected from the car. I can just imagine what her parents are thinking..."She knows to wear her seatbelt!!" You know? It's exactly what every parent would be thinking....it could have been such a different outcome had she been wearing it. When I was hit by a drunk driver in '93, it was exactly what saved my life.

At the risk of sounding like a lecturing mom, to all of our young people on the board...don't give into peer pressure. Please don't get in the car with anyone who has been drinking, and please wear your seatbelts.

How terribly sad. How many more kids need to die in accidents like this before young people smarten up? I'll definitely be praying.

Amy, what a sad and tragic story. I will be praying for the family.

Awful. Tragic. Sad.
I'll be praying.

Are seat-belts compulsory in that state? I know that they are in all states of Australia.

So sorry Amy. I know your heart ache today. I will keep you all in prayer.

What a terrible and tragic loss. My prayers are with the families.

Thank you everyone, so much for your prayers. I know the family appreciates them.

Alex, yes, seatbelts are the law here....I wish more people would take it seriously.


Pam, how is the family of the boy from Devin's school doing? How is the school/his friends doing? I couldn't help but think of him today. I was just talking to Teresa, and telling her how 'unnatural' it is for a parent to bury a child....we're not 'supposed' to outlive our kids. This will be the first funeral I've ever had to witness a parent grieving their child...it's going to be tough.

I'll be Praying

Poor girl...and poor family! My prayers are with them, Amy. And with you, who knows her since her childhood.

Don't torture yourself thinkig that it could not have happened, since, sadly,it happened. Only God knows when a person must to die.

Vanesa.

Thank you Jacob and Vanesa.

Vanesa wrote:

Don't torture yourself thinkig that it could not have happened, since, sadly,it happened. Only God knows when a person must to die. [Vanesa.

Thank you for that reminder Vanesa....you're absolutely right. And I do accept that Holly is in a better place, in God's arms now. My deep sorrow is for her parents, and her brother, and all those who loved her.


Here is her memorial write up. What her brother wrote at the end is amazing. (By the way, her brother attends college at Brendan's university, and it was one of the universities Holly was considering as well)

http://estesleadley.com/?p=2217


And, this is an article in the paper:

http://www.lansingstatejournal.com/article/20110201/NEWS01/102010327/1001


Please continue to pray for the young man still in the hospital....his name is Anthony. The last I heard is that he may be brain dead. I pray that is not the case.


The 17 year old who was driving has been charged and may get 30 years. My heart aches for his family right now as well.

I forgot to mention.....I am very worried that I'm not going to make it to the funeral or visitation. I was hoping that they would have postponed the funeral until after the storm hit, but they didnt. I thought for sure it would be Friday or Saturday, but it's Thursday, and the visitation is tomorrow evening, right in the eye of the storm. We are due to get 15 inches, along with blowing and drifting, frigid temps, and ice. Not good. My son really wanted to be here for this too, and now that it's in the middle of the week, and the storm, there is no way he can come home from college. So, if you could please pray that this storm is not as severe as they are predicting....I really want to be there, but it doesn't look good right now.

How sweet what her brother wrote...so touching. It's easy to see she loved his ssiter deeply. She must have been a very special girl.

I'll pray for Holly's family and frtiends, and also for Anthony who is fighting so hard for his life.

Don't worry if you can't go to the funeral or the visitations. The important thing is that you FEELS like going and really can't . God knows how your real intentions are. And Holly's family too, I'm sure of it.

Vanesa.

Hope you can get to the funeral Amy. This weather is brutal right now.
If for some reason you can't though, in the months to come you can always pay your respects to this family then too. I know for me, when I buried my boyfriend--Reagan, it was the loving words etc that I got months later that really meant the most.
You sort of think the world has forgotten when life goes on. So don't forget to reach out to them then too.
It sounds like her brother has already started to heal by writting what he did. That will help him alot.
Its hard to watch Amy, I know. You just want to rewind and give this family back this child. I hope they will within the next 6 months try to get some counseling. They will need to regroup and learn to focus on the happy times to move forward. It will truly take time.
Makes us all see how we need to hold our loved ones in close and makes things right with them every day.

I am at a loss for words. This is happening way to often, I've never mentioned this fact before but my husband David lost his youngest son Jim in a similar situation. He was the passenger in a car accident leaving an underage drinking party. This happened 20 years ago... It seems our youth will never learn. How very, very sad... My prayers are going out to Holly's family at this difficult time.

Thank you SO much Vanesa, Christina, Gin & Lorrie. Your caring words mean so much to me. I will be back later to write more.

Lorrie, I am so sorry about your husband's son. How you pick up the pieces after something like that is just beyond me.

Gin, I know what you mean about feeling 'forgotten' months after a loss. Thank you for the reminder...I do want to be there for the family. Also, I will suggest to them the center for grieving children that we have in our area, that my sister directs. It's a wonderful healing place, and it's for families, not just for children.


I went to the visitation today. Once I made it out of my subdivision, the main roads were driveable. I can't describe how difficult this was...I've been to many funerals, but never have had to comfort those who have lost their child. It's a very different, helpless feeling. I held the dad as he cried...held his hand as he said, "Amy, this isn't happening, is it?" It was a very devastating thing. There were so many beautiful pictures of Holly on display, both recent and childhood...she was such a lovely young lady. The hardest thing was reading a recently written school assignment, entitled "My Life Goals"....things like going to college, getting married, becoming a dancer, among her many goals. Just so tragic.


I want to thank all of you for your support and prayers. It's been a help to me to come here and 'talk' about this. Please continue to pray for the family.



*Edit* Senior Anthony Harris, who was the other victim of the crash and feared brain dead, passed away late last night. Thank you for praying for him.

Wow this is so tragic!
I will be praying for the family.

I will be praying for Holly's family and friends. I could not imagine the pain of burying one of your children.

Oh, Amy, I can only imagine all the pain and suffering going on right now. I'm glad you were able to go to the visitation. My thoughts and prayers remain with the families. How sad that the accident claimed another life.

Thank you Carol, Alice and Cheryl.


Here is a youtube video tribute of Holly. She sure was a beautiful girl. At 3:10, there is a picture of her with the boy who died with her at the scene, Taylyr.

Beatuiful video, but oh so young to die.