Why We’re Here: Luke Maue
By
MADD
|
February 4, 2013
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Filed in:
Drunk Driving
,
Victim Services
,
Victim Stories
 |
| Luke at the zoo |
Luke Maue was a loving and caring boy with a sweet smile. He loved basketball, the Power Rangers and Blues Brothers 2000.
On May 18, 2001, seven-year-old Luke visited the St. Louis Zoo on a field trip with his first-grade class. Luke was excited about the trip and was happy to have his mother, Angie, attend with him.
As they were leaving the zoo after a fun-filled day, a 20-year-old drunk driver, with a BAC of .22, was driving 64 mph in a 25 mph zone and lost control of his car. His car jumped the curb and struck and killed Luke on the sidewalk as his mother and classmates watched in horror.
After Luke was killed, Angie called MADD’s Help Line looking for support. She was introduced to a victim advocate, Angela Leong, who met the family at the funeral home for the visitation and continued to support the family. “She was there for us whenever we needed her,” says Angie Maue, Luke’s mother.
Angie also attended support group meetings and other MADD events. Through MADD, the Maue family found a community that helped them through the healing process, and now considers them family.
Angie now spends her time speaking at area high schools, colleges and MADD Victim Impact Panels. She hopes that sharing Luke’s story might prevent someone else from a senseless tragedy like this.
“I feel that is my gift and what I am supposed to do,” Angie says. “I witnessed my son's death and now I need to be his voice. We want to give back to MADD, the organization that is making an effort to do the same.”
The Maues created Luke’s Legacy and host a fundraising event for MADD called “Hope 4 Tomorrow,” a 5K run and 1 mile MADD Dash that is held around Luke’s birthday each year. This event raises several thousand dollars each year for the MADD Gateway affiliate.
In Our Hearts
By
Jan Withers
|
February 4, 2013
|
Filed in:
National President
,
Victim Services
On a TV show I watched recently, a young woman was clinging to a pink felt heart. Her friend pointed to it and asked, “What’s this about?” The woman responded, “It was sewn on a teddy bear that I carried around everywhere when I was a child. I never let go of that bear. I finally wore it out, and this heart is all I have left,” she replied. He very gently responded, “You have the best part.” He then pulled a tiny piece of paper from his wallet. It was from a Chinese fortune cookie she had given him the first time they met. On it was written, “Today’s new friend is tomorrow’s family.”
This month, many of us whose loved ones were killed by impaired driving will pull out Valentine cards that are now—like my heart’s feelings—a little tattered around the edges. My eyes often fill with tears as I think, “this is all I have left of Alisa. I want more.”
But then, Alisa’s lovely spirit tiptoes to the front of my heart. You see I carry her in my heart, everywhere I go. She has always been there—before she was born, to the time that she danced around us on this earth, and even now when her beautiful spirit lives in my heart, as it does in so many others. I never let go of that girl.
On Valentine’s Day—and every day—remember that our loved ones live on in our heart. In our hearts… that’s the best place, now. I am so grateful for all of the gifts Alisa continues to give me, and I am sure that your loved ones fill your heart with gifts of love, too. May your Valentine’s Day give you warm moments of lovely memories.
Each of us connects to MADD for our own reasons, and so we are connected to one another. I cherish our bond as I cherish every one of you. On this Valentine’s Day, whether or not we have met in person, I thank you for being in my life. Today’s new friend is tomorrow’s family. How true that is.
Warmly,
Jan
Impact: After the Crash Documentary Film
By
MADD
|
February 1, 2013
|
Filed in:
Drunk Driving
May 14th will mark the 25th anniversary of the deadliest drunk driving crash in US history. A bus carrying a church group in Carrollton, KY was hit by a drunk driver, killing 27 passengers—24 youth and 3 adults—and injured 30 more. Former MADD National President Karolyn Nunnallee's daughter Patty was killed in the crash.
You can read more about how the Kentucky Bus Crash inspired the creation of a large-scale crisis response system in our Winter MADDvisor.
| Impact: After the Crash Trailer |
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