a little girl in the impala...

[Lotus Lips]

there was a little girl in the impala that I didnt know about. She wasn't buckled. Apparently she was unconcious on the floorboard when I got to the impala....her mother didnt have a 7 year old buckled up. I just found out about this a few hours ago, which is why I'm still up at 2:38 in the morning.

The little girl's name was Rebekah. She was 3 weeks 2 days from her 8th birth.

She didnt make it. Her mom is being charged with neglect and manslaughter in the (somthing) degree because she didnt have her kid buckled.

I'm sorry, but yall said I was a hero and I did the right thing. A hero would have noticed a 7 year old in the backseat...Dont ever drive with outyour seatbelt. the guy who called me (some lawyer dude) told me she probably would have survived if she wasn't tossed around like a god damned rag doll. the belt woulda prevented that.

**edited later**
its odd, I saw the nick berg video, ive seen the pix of what the somali's did to our troops back in '93, i remember Sept. 11, '01 perfectly. none of those made me cry. But a little girl that I never knew, never heard of, never saw, can make me bawl. Is something wrong about that?

[Lotus Lips]

that makes sense sir. Thank you for the imput. the funeral is later today, I will probably go, im not sure yet.

[Bell]

Don't feel guilty. It's baggage you don't need. Take your lesson from this and drive on.

Lesson? If, and when, it ever happens again, you'll assign duties to individual rubberneckers to scan the AO for survivors or victims, and you will definitely check the back seat and floorboard next time.

It's not your fault. You did good. That's why we have professional's in that line of work. As an amateur your performance was outstanding. That little girl couldn't have been helped anyway.

You stepped up to the plate. Be satisfied. Be realistic and understand that your performance was stellar. Remember the other slugs standing around and getting in the way? Why didn't they find the girl? Leave it alone. You don't have to be proud of what you did. We'll be proud for ya.

RLTW
Bell

[Lotus Lips]

Roger that Ranger Bell.
I dont really have time to worry bout her, I need to worry about recovery first and foremost. I cant wait to get outta this damned cast, im goning to join that 1000 PU club. And ill do it in (the limit is 4 hours right?) Im gonna shoot for 3-3.5 hours, tops. If'n I dont make that, I'll restart.

[Earthpig]

Jeff-

Listen to my fellow vets.....they are right. You did a good thing. That little girl wouldn't have made it, even if you had found her. I've seen babies wedged in the wiring up behind the dashboard before. A lot happens to a body in a tumbling vehicle when it isn't buckled in.

The parents of those kids learned a horrible lesson...buckle up your family. I have friends who do the same every stinking day, no matter how many times I point it out to them. As a result, my kids cannot go ANYWHERE with their families. I won't allow them to get into their vehicles.

It is sad that that child was taken in her youth. It is also sad that her death touched your life. This world is filled with sadness and as you continue through life, you'll see much more. Cry it out if you have to, but drive on. You are a hero in my eyes....you did well.

RLTW
EP

[Lotus Lips]

Ranger EarthPig, I am not a hero. The true hero's are the soldiers such as yourself, fighting for us. The true hero's are the police and firemen who risk their lives daily. The true hero's are the doctors and surgeons who fight to save lives every day. I still say I merely did what I had to do.

[Bell]

Jeff, let's put this into perspective. You keep saying that. Stand in our shoes and look at yourself. What did the other people do? Why did you feel you had to do something? Why did you do anything? No one else would.

That's the definition of a hero Jeff. The man that steps up and takes charge because he sees the need to do something. And his actions saves others lives or prevents loss of life.

Now, shutup hero.

RLTW
Bell

[Moni D]

I still say I merely did what I had to do.

But that is what a hero does. Now I missed the story, but I got enough of it I think. When I was in EMT school my teacher told us-and I think this applies to those outside the profession who are thrust into that situation- there will always be at least one call you'll never forget.

I wish I could tell you you will eventually forget this, that time would dim the image from your mind, but nothing short of your own death can do that.

I wish for you peace, because seeing a dead child is a horrible experience I'm no longer an emt but could conceivably find myself in a position such as yours.

Hope y'all don't mind me jumping in, but I wanted to ad my 2 cents worth (or has inflation hit here too)

And no, there is nothing abnormal about crying about this, and not the other situations. As one of the Rangers told you- this is personal to you.

[Lotus Lips]

Of course, as usual you are right Ranger Bell. looking from that perspective I see where your coming from.

Monica, the rest of the story is

http://www.armyranger.com/bb/viewtopic. ... 27&start=0

and

http://www.armyranger.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3766

[Moni D]

Of course, as usual you are right Ranger Bell. looking from that perspective I see where your coming from.

Monica, the rest of the story is

http://www.armyranger.com/bb/viewtopic. ... 27&start=0

and

http://www.armyranger.com/bb/viewtopic.php?t=3766

Jeff:
I am very impressed, and very sorry. For one so young, to take such decisive action, in the circumstances you faced, is truly a hero. I am glad yo are essentially ok- how is your healing- I notice it hasn't been that long.

I only had time to review the first link you posted, I'll look at both tomorrow (or today, now...)

May God bless you with a speedy and thorpugh recovery, and may He ease your mind of doubts and memories.

One of the Rangers said in the first post you sent me to that you are the type of person that would make a good ranger- and even though I am an outsider, I would have to agree. You will be an asset to whomever employs you, and to anyone you serve.

Moni

[Lotus Lips]

Thanks for the warm words Monica.

In answering your question bout healing...hurts and itches like hell lol. Car antennas work wonders though...only thing that fits down my cast. Docs say another month and a half maybe and ill be outta the cast, who knows. Ribs are ok, sore and bruised, im still a little broken (havent gotten another xray yet, scheduled for next week) so well see then. Christen (my girlfriend) found out she sprained her back and is in physical therapy now, which she says is..differnt. alot of back popping, learning to move without hurting her back. shes got another 3 months of that.

ALSO, I got a new Ford Taurus, green. Well, not a new one persay, its a 97. But its exactly like my old one (but with a sun roof and a few other features that are better.) People say its bad karma to get a car exactly like the one you just wrecked..but hey, its also bad karma to get a car that wont survive an accident (or at least help you survive) So, I reccommend a Ford Taurus (96 and up) as a first car for anyone with kids learning to drive. They sure as hell will survive a bad accident as I just proved!

[Saltbitch]

Jeff, you're G2G in my book. As it has been stated earlier, if you ask any of the 'professionals' that you call 'heroes' (Military, firefighters, EMT's, etc) the same question about being a hero, they'll ALL tell you the same thing.....I WAS JUST DOING MY JOB. It is the actions of the individual that makes a hero; not necessarily if everything turned out perfectly.

Take the time to grieve; it is part of your 'healing'. You'll get through this, and you'll be stronger for it.

Take care.

[Lotus Lips]

Roger that Ranger Saltbitch. Trust me...the grieving is setting in, as much as im trying to fight it.

[lawdog]

Jeff,
I've been following this whole incident but haven't said much until now. You've already heard it from everyone but you should not hang your head one bit for what happened to that little girl. I've seen life torn from this earth and had to finally realize that no one can do anything about what happens. When it is your time it's your time. No questions. You did an absolutely fantastic, admirable thing during a time when everyone else stood back and watched. Grieving is 100% normal and you should be feeling it. If you didn't than something would definitely be wrong. Not grieving because of what you didn't do, but because you cared enough about another person to take the extra step and be a better person. Hold you head high and never beat yourself up for what happened. God knows I've done it in my time. After doing CPR for 30 minutes and the person still passes, having friends hurt on the job because I wasn't there to help, and tons more like it. Recover, grieve, and drive on.
BTW - If Rangering isn't for you, my line of work could always use a few more HEROS.
Lawdog