Letter to Alisa
By Jan Withers | September 16, 2011 | Filed in: Drunk Driving , National President , Power of Parents , Underage Drinking

Mom Congress asked everyone to participate in their Back-to-School Blog-a-thon this week by writing a letter to their children as they start a new school year to tell them how they are going to make their school year the best it can be.  Here is my letter to my daughter, Alisa.     


Dear Alisa,

I am writing to you, wishing I could be looking at you and holding your hands as I talk.  I would tell you that everything I do centers around my love for you.  I would tell you that you are the most important person in my life so your happiness and well-being is the most important thing in my life.   I would tell you that because I love you I want you to be safe and healthy and alive.  I would share with you information on why to avoid alcohol as a teen, such as how it can make you sick, lead to sexual assault, lead to early death, lead to alcoholism, not to mention it is illegal.   I would want to hear your opinions about it.  I would like to share with you some ways to help you make good choices.   I would share with you clear guidelines and consequences, not because I want to be mean but because I want you to be healthy and safe.  And I would tell you to never ride with someone who has been drinking – ever.  

But, I can’t tell you any of those things.  I am sure you thought it would never happen to you – that terrible things only happen to someone else.  But you became that someone else when you rode with a friend who chose to drink and then drive.   You became that someone who was killed.  So, I sometimes joke that when I get to heaven to be with you…you are grounded for getting into that car!  But, I won’t. Instead, I will just cry tears of joy to see you again and hug you and kiss you and hold you and tell you I have missed you and I love you so much.

I love you to ‘finity, 

Mom

Article Link | Add new Comment

Hello and Goodbye
By Jan Withers | July 7, 2011 | Filed in: Drunk Driving , General , National President , Power of Parents , Underage Drinking , Victim Services

I offer my gratitude to our outgoing President Laura Dean-Mooney. She has crossed the country - the globe actually - effectively representing all of us in MADD. Her dedication and sacrifice these past three years is deeply appreciated. You have been a powerful voice for us, Laura. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart.

Today is July 7th, my daughter, Alisa's, birthday. She was killed by an underage drunk driver 15 years after her birth, just 3 months before she turned 16. It feels absolutely perfect to me that I connect with you today for the first time as your new president. The day she was born was the launch of new joy in my heart. She was sunshine personified. As a little girl she was delightful giggles and dance. As she grew up she was gracious kindness and graceful dance. Here you see a picture of her in a rehearsal.

Today she would be 35. I wonder how she would have changed. Would she have a career in dancing? Would she have children? Would her hair still be long? What would she look like now? My friend Mary Klotzbach's son, Matthew, was killed when they were hit by a drunk driver in 2001. She says she wishes so much she could have current pictures of him. The photos of newly created memories abruptly stopped the day they died. We wish so much we could update our photo albums with snapshots of new memories.

I called MADD for help when I was paralyzed with pain. The sorrow was excruciating and the anger overwhelming. What I received was not only help, but I began to see glimpses of hope. When I could not stop crying, I was offered a kind heart. When I could not speak, my MADD advocate became my voice. At the same time, I was watching others in MADD - others who had experienced similar loss or who had been severely injured. They were their own voice or spoke for those who couldn't. They modeled strength I didn't have in my most broken days - but I wanted it - I wanted to get there someday. They were my beacons of hope.

So, as time moved forward, so did I. The day Alisa died, a piece of my heart died. I am forever different. Now, though, I know she moves forward with me. Along the journey so many people in MADD were first my beacons of hope and became my heroes. I watched them support one another. I watched them fight to save lives. I watched them courageously turn their pain into power. They taught me well, for I followed their example.

Today I am humbled to represent you, so many of whom are my close friends, and knowing I will meet so many of you who will become my friends. I feel we already know each other. We will touch one another's hearts. We are bound as a family in MADD. We are together to save lives. We are together to honor and support those who have been vicitimized by this violent crime, to protect our youth from the dangers of underage drinking, and to eliminate this scourge of drunk driving. I know this is a noble goal. I know this is an attainable goal. Today, I am humbled, knowing we will move forward together.

Warmly,
Jan Withers

Article Link | Add new Comment

Items 36 - 37 of 37  Previous12345678

 

      

Powered by Convio
nonprofit software