Susan’s Basket Store is very aware of the statistics concerning drunk driving fatalities and would like to share this article in an effort to encourage all those consuming alcohol during the upcoming July 4th, holiday and every other occasion, to remember to drink and drive responsibly!

It had been over 24 hours since I had seen my daughter. It was very strange, knowing that my daughter was fine, but experiencing the void of her presence after only yesterday being told that she had been killed in a car accident.

It was time to gather at the school gym for the “mock” funeral for the "Every-15-minute" victims. I was totally unprepared for the emotional road I was about to travel. Upon arriving at the school, there were other parents standing around. There seem to be some sort of comradeship between us all. I looked at them and the thought crossed my mind, what it this had really happened? It was an awful thought to think of how many lives could be affected by one drunk driving incident.

When we entered the gym, we were instructed to take our places in the 3 rows of chairs situated in the middle of the gym facing the bleachers. On each chair was a box of Kleenex, indicating to me the depth of emotional display that was about to take place. My heart sunk a bit as I thought about how I would be reading my goodbye letter to Jena in front of the school. A few minutes later, the Junior and Senior class came pouring into the gym and took their seats in the bleachers. The participating students including my daughter Jena entered the room and were in black robes carrying red roses and were sitting directly to our right. This was the first time in the two days that I had laid eyes on my daughter. Already the tears were welling up in my eyes. We exchanged a pleasant smile, almost as if to say, thank God this is “mock”.

The keynote speaker was a representative from MAD. She had experienced not one but two drunk driving devastations in her life. First she relayed how she herself as a teenager had been in an accident involving a drunk driver. She described in detail the experience of how almost every bone in her body had been broken. How she was told she would never have children and how she may never walk again. The heartbreaking story actually ended with some relief as we found out that against all odds, she did walk again and she did have children. But then she shared how years later she had been watching her little 4-year-old niece and how her sister had come to pick her up and take her home. She described how she had given her little niece a kiss goodbye and helped situate her in her car seat with her little baby brother. Her sister then drove off and it would be the last time she would ever see her little niece again. Her sister had entered an intersection on a green light when a drunk driver had slammed into the side of her vehicle. The little girl was able to crawl out of the car seat and check on her little brother who had bitten his tongue completely off. Then she crawled in the front to check on her Mommy when shortly after, the little girl curled up into a little ball and died of internal injuries. By now, the audience was in tears.

After such an emotional story, how would I bring myself to be the next speaker? It is still a blur but I managed through the tears and sniffles to read my letter….

Dear Jena,

Goodbyes are so hard for me, especially this one because I won’t be seeing you anymore. A piece of me has died today. I remember when you were a little girl, you used to fall and hurt yourself and Mommies kisses made it all better. I wish I could pick you up and kiss you and make it all ok. But I can’t do anything this time. I feel so helpless. It’s not supposed to happen this way. I’m supposed to die first. But now I’m saying goodbye to you. It seems so senseless, that due to something as stupid as alcohol, you are gone forever.

Ever since you were a little baby you have brought nothing but joy to my life. I am going to miss your sweet smile and your loving hugs. When you would walk into a room, the entire room would just light up. You were so much fun to have around. I’m going to miss the sounds from the piano as your fingers gently glide across its keys. The Christmas melodies won’t be quite the same played from some CD. What will I do with the piano? No one else knows how to play it. Maybe I’ll keep it so on all those lonely afternoons I can sit and imagine you laughing and playing the piano with your 2 year old little sister sitting next to you.

I am so sorry that this goodbye comes before you have had the chance to experience your first love, before you get to feel the joy of walking down the isle on your wedding day. Before you know the joy of pregnancy and the extreme awe of holding that tiny baby in your arms for the first time. There is so much you won’t be able to experience now. And there will be no pitter patting of tiny feet from grandchildren for me. I’ve lost you forever.

You have left behind 3 younger sisters and a little brother. Tori is only 2 1/2, she probably will lose all memories of you as she grows up. Evie is not quite 1 and I’m sure she won’t remember you. Jessica will miss you forever. I know the feeling of losing a sister. I lost my little sister in a car accident in 1990, she was pregnant at the time. As hard as that was for me, this is even harder. You are my little girl. I carried you for 9 months inside my womb. I labored with you and brought you into this wonderful world. I taught you and raised you for 17 years. You became a wonderful, giving, outgoing and beautiful young woman. Today is a very sad day. Everyone is crying and all of us miss you already so much. I’m not sure how we will go on.

All I can say is thank you for the 17 years of joy you brought to my life. Thank you for being so much fun. You may be gone forever, but I will never forget you.

At the end of the mock funeral, Jena brought me the rose and we embraced with happy tears. The entire school seemed to be crying during my speech. It was an emotional experience and although there are those that debate the value of such a program, I departed convinced that at least for me and my family and those that I saw touched by the experience, that the idea of drinking while driving or allowing others to drive under the influence became much more of a personal thing. This program allows you to experience as closely as possible the devastating affects that drinking and driving can have.

I am thankful that this was a staged event and I am thankful that my family’s eyes have been opened to the affects of alcohol, but mostly, I am thankful that my daughter is here with me today and I feel confident that this program will directly affect future decisions she makes in regards to alcohol.

Here is to the “Every 15 Minutes” program!

- Wendy Layne ©2002