Sudden Impact

7/5/22

Sudden Impact is an interactive program that educates high school sophomores about the dangers of driving impaired, driving without a seat belt, and distracted driving. It is facilitated by the Injury Prevention Program for University Medical Center’s Level 1 Trauma Center and by the Louisiana State Police. Ray, Katie & I spent the morning filming at the cemetery where the kids are with the amazing people that make up the Sudden Impact Team..

This is such an amazing organization that really goes above and beyond to educate students with very realistic reenactments to show why they must make right choices before getting behind the wheel of a vehicle. This organization targets sophomore high school students, who are about to get their license. The goal is to make such an impact on these kids that they will  remember this experience well into adulthood.

This year Sudden Impact has restructured their program around the bad decision one man made to drive drunk, which resulted in the senseless death of my three youngest children. Lindy  (20 years old), Christopher (17 years old), and Kamryn (15 years old). We showed them a glimpse of the heartache, pain, devastation and tragic loss that he left us with as a result of his selfish decision. Our family, as we knew it, is dead, forcing us to live our lives totally broken. Our challenge is now to accept this new life and believe me, it is extremely difficult. Everything we did, we did together. Nothing is the same without them anymore, without my babies. Our lives on this earth are forever changed and we must figure out how to fill three empty spaces which were once occupied by out three amazing children who  were full of life and brought us so much joy.

I started off this day with a feeling of satisfaction and hope. I know that my babies are still making a difference as we push to raise awareness of the traumatic consequences of drunk driving. We are determined to expose impaired driving, in my babies name, so that they will never be forgotten. Soon after we were done filming, the grief was tapping me on the back, reminding me of my new reality. Not allowing me to get a break from the truth that my sweet loving children are gone from this earth. We sat by the bayou at Beau Pre cemetery for the majority of the morning but we did get some shots by their graves. I cannot believe my 3 babies have graves. I can’t believe this is where their bodies have to remain day after day. They aren’t able to hang out with their friends and family and enjoy their summer. They’ll never see so many things that they should be able to see. They’ll never see their big milestone birthdays of 16, 18 and 21. Kamryn was so anxious to turn 16. I am just broken as I type this and remind myself of the gravity of what was stolen from us. Nevertheless, the Lord intervenes and gently reminds me that they are with Him, living, breathing and experiencing the love of God in a way that words cannot describe. I wish that I could say that I have total peace knowing his, but honestly, my heart yearns for them, and I am just not there yet. In their short lives, they left such a remarkable legacy.

A good name is to be more desired than great wealth; favor is better than silver and gold.

Proverbs 22:1