TRAGEDY

The young couple who live next door to us have been operating a day care center in their home since shortly after they purchased the home a few years back. They have 3 children of their own, and are very nice - though we don't come into much contact with them. I know that the husband was very helpful during a major ice storm we experienced in December of 2007, assisting us by helping cut down the remnants of two trees fallen from the weight of the ice. We've exchanged pleasantries with them on numerous occasions.

Yesterday an incredible tragedy occurred in their home. One of the children they were watching as part of their Day Care died. The child was only 4 months old. The child was dropped off at 7:30 AM by its mother. My neighbor put the child down for a nap at a little after 8. When he still hadn't awoken at 11:00, after having looked in on him an hour earlier, she saw he wasn't breathing and began administering CPR. At the same time, she called for another caregiver to call 911.

Fire, police, and paramedics arrived within minutes and rushed into the home. As they felt for the child's heartbeat and pulse, and other vital signs, it was apparent the child had already expired. As one paramedic told my neighbor, "He was cold to the touch, there was nothing we could do." My wife, who had gone next door to see if she could help as the trucks and ambulance arrived, caught my neighbor as she began to feint upon hearing this grim news.

I was standing in my front yard as the mother of the child received the news from a fireman that her baby was gone. Her wails of sorrow echoed through our neighborhood, and those of us gathered in our yard knew then that the news was bad. I simply hung my head and said a quick prayer for the mother, asking God to give her strength for whatever it was she had to face. At that point, neither I, nor the other neighbors who had come outside to see why there were firetrucks, police cars, and an ambulance gathered, knew what had happened. We only knew that those heartbreaking cries of a distraught young woman meant unspeakable sadness.

My wife eventually came outside and told me what had happened. My neighbor from across the street joined us and we spoke for a few minutes. Then my wife returned to my neighbors home. Knowing there wasn't anything I could do, I finally went back inside my own house, and my wife returned some 20 minutes later.

There isn't much one can say at a time like this. Neither of us knew either the deceased child or his mother. We know our neighbors where the tragedy took place, but not very well. Death, when it occurs close by, is sobering. This is the third death in less than 2 years involving someone in our neighborhood. The wives of two of our "Across the street" neighbors have gone to their final resting place - and now, this 4 month old child.

I suppose it just reinforces that we should never take life for granted. We should treasure every moment we have with our loved ones, and live our own life to the fullest. I was fortunate to learn that lesson almost 10 years ago, but I, too, sometimes forget. Too often some people never learn that lesson. They spend all their time acquiring things, or money, and forget about what is most important - Family and Friends. Don't forget to tell someone you love them today. And tomorrow. And the day after that. You never know when the last time you see them will be.

Old Fart Mike