A Sad Day

This morning I shared with people nation wide the devastating reminder that over 100 children are killed each year and over 2400 children are treated in the hospital each year due to the "bye bye syndrome", which is when kids are accidentally run over while a car is backing up. The Chapman family whom I don't know personally but have loved, admired and adored for some time now experienced this tragedy just last night while celebrating their daughter's engagement and son's high school graduation. Their youngest child, adorable Maria Sue, who just turned 5 years old 10 days before, was the victim. She was accidently run over by her teenage brother.
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I'm sure most of you know of Stephen Curtis Chapman, who happens to be an amazing Grammy winning Christian singer/songwriter along with being an outstanding father. Stephen and his wife Mary Beth, who are the parents of six children, are long time adoption supporters having adopted their three youngest children from China.
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I was a little hesitant about posting this sad, sad news on the blog (not wanting to bring anyone down), but it has been on my mind constantly all day and I figured they could certainly use the extra prayers right now and we could all benefit from the reminder to keep an extra eye on our children when we are around vehicles. Better yet, keep an extra hand on them. Their little lives are just too precious not to.

You can read about the story here or visit the blog they created in her memory here.



sweet Maria

Over 60% of back over incidents involve a larger size vehicle, such as a truck, van or SUV, like the one Chapman's son was driving.

Kids and Cars' recommendations to keep children safe include:

• Walk around and behind a vehicle prior to moving it.

• Know where your kids are. Make children move away from your vehicle to a place where they are in full view before moving the car and know that another adult is properly supervising children before moving your vehicle.

• Teach children that "parked" vehicles might move. Let them know that they can see the vehicle; but the driver might not be able to see them.

• Consider installing cross view mirrors, audible collision detectors, rear view video camera and/or some type of back up detection device.

• Measure the size of your blind spot behind the vehicle(s) you drive. A 5-foot-1-inch driver in a pickup truck can have a rear blind zone of approximately 8 feet wide by 50 feet long.

• Be aware that steep inclines and large SUVs, vans and trucks add to the difficulty of seeing behind a vehicle.

• Hold children's hand when leaving the vehicle.

• Teach your children to never play in, around or behind a vehicle, and always set the emergency brake.

• Keep toys and other sports equipment off the driveway.

• Trim landscaping around the driveway to ensure they can see the sidewalk, street and pedestrians clearly when backing out of their driveway. Pedestrians also need to be able to see a vehicle pulling out of the driveway.

• Never leave children alone in or around cars; not even for a minute.

• Keep vehicles locked at all times; even in the garage or driveway and always set your parking brake.

• Keys and/or remote openers should never be left within reach of children.

• Make sure all child passengers have left the car after it is parked.

• Be especially careful about keeping children safe in and around cars during busy times, schedule changes and periods of crisis or holidays.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the Chapman family in this difficult time.

"Cinderella" by Steven Curtis Chapman (video at the bottom - please watch and listen)

Here are some of the Lyrics:

She spins and she sways to whatever song plays,
Without a care in the world.
And I'm sittin' here wearin' the weight of the world on my shoulders.
It's been a long day and there's still work to do,
She's pulling at me saying "Dad I need you!
There's a ball at the castle and I've been invited and I need to practice my dancin'"
"Oh please, daddy, please!"

So I will dance with Cinderella
While she is here in my arms'
Cause I know something the prince never knew
Ohh-oh ohh-oh, I will dance with Cinderella
I don't wanna miss even one song,
Cuz all to soon the clock will strike midnight
And she'll be gone
She will be gone.