 |
 |
|
 |
||
      |
||
|
A Mother’s Holiday Wish to Keep Your Christmas Lights Lit On December 23, 2001 Debbie was out shopping for last minute
Christmas gifts. Loving mother and five-months pregnant with her
second child, Debbie Dawe would This is a holiday wish from Debbie’s mother: I never dreamed that anything so traumatic would happen to my family. I read about such tragedy in the paper, I saw these things on the television news, and people would tell me about such things happening. But like so many others I felt sure it only happened ‘out there.’ It would never happen to me, to our family… This poem is of a moment in time that has forever changed the lives of our family. Christmas 2001 passed in a blur for myself and my family. Instead of opening Christmas presents from under the tree and gathering around the family dinner table, our Christmas consisted of funeral preparations, shock, and tears.
I want people to know how widespread a tragedy like this is. Our family was not the only one to suffer Debbie's loss and the loss of her unborn child. The whole community was devastated by this tragedy -- the police who had to handle the occurrence, the fire department and ambulance attendants who had to respond to the scene. Debbie was a lab technician in the hospital and, consequently, everyone she worked with was traumatized. Let's not forget all the friends that had to deal with losing Debbie. And then there is the offender of this crime – he has a family who has been left without a husband, father and no means of an income… Debbie's loss is with us every day. Special occasions, like birthdays, Thanksgiving and Easter are tainted forever. There is always the reminder that one chair remains empty at the dinner table.
The most heartbreaking times for me are the events in Debbie's daughter's life. Riley started school this year and Debbie ought to have been the one walking her through the doors. It tears my heart apart when school outings to Gammondale Farm, or an afternoon at the arena skating come up. So many students have their mothers along and as much as I love sharing these times with Riley, she deserves to have had her mother with her. I ask you, please, to take heart from my words. Don't have your Christmas lights go out forever! Be responsible! Have a designated driver or plan to stay overnight wherever you are celebrating. My Christmas wish is that everyone "TIE ONE ON" with a red ribbon on your car aerial to remind yourself and other motorists NOT TO DRINK AND DRIVE! Lesley Read THE YEAR THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS WENT OUT Two days before Christmas and all was well It was a time for celebration A son to be proud of I sit in my chair taking joy for all I have I rushed to my car and drove carefully there So much for the joy, the excitement, and peace I MAKE THIS PLEA TO EACH OF YOU
Related Pages
Debbie, enceinte de cinq mois de son deuxième enfant, était une mère dévouée. Le 23 décembre 2001, Debbie faisait ses courses de Noël de dernière minute lorsqu’un conducteur aux facultés affaiblies a heurté son véhicule tuant, d’un coup, Debbie et son enfant à naître. Lesley, la mère de Debbie, décrit ce cauchemar interminable qui a changé à jamais le caractère des célébrations des Fêtes de sa famille. « Pour ma famille et moi, Noël 2001 fut plongé dans une pénombre. Plutôt que d’ouvrir les cadeaux au pied de notre sapin et de déguster ensemble notre souper de Noël, nous prenions des arrangements funéraires. Notre Noël fut imprégné de choc et de larmes. » Debbie et sa famille ressentent cette perte chaque jour. Pour
ce qui est de Noël, les lumières de cette famille
sont éteintes à jamais.
|
 
|
|||||
|
MADD Canada | Victim Services | News| Research Library | Volunteering | Youth | Donate |
||||||
© MADD Canada - Privacy and Copyright declarations. |
||||||
never
return home. 
There
is no ending or closure to a death like this. There are nightmares,
sleepless nights, and at times hanging on to life by a thread.
