When Tragedy Strikes

A couple of weeks ago, the unthinkable happened to a two year old boy who lives in a neighboring town. The child was visiting his grandparents. He was outside the house with his grandmother. The grandmother realized that she had left something that she needed in the house. So she decided to step briefly into the house to retrieve the item. I think they were planning on going somewhere in her car. While unattended, the toddler found a loaded pistol lying on the seat of the car. He pointed the gun straight at his own face and fired. The bullet went through his eye into his brain. This unfortunate child has endured grueling hours of surgery at a hospital in Birmingham, Alabama. The doctors were able to save his life, but he is permanently blind in one eye. At the present time he is unable to talk or walk. Years of repeated surgeries and endless physical therapy sessions await the child. His physicians hope that he will regain the ability to walk although there is a strong likelihood that he will have a permanent limp from damage inflicted to the area of his brain that helps control movement. It is also unknown whether he will have full mobility in his hands. Currently there is no way to assess the damage done to his cognitive faculties. Will he have normal intelligence? Will he be learning disabled? Only time will tell.

This is such a senseless, preventable tragedy. I can't begin to fathom why anyone would leave a loaded pistol lying on a car seat in an unlocked car. What a recipe for disaster! Anyone with children or grandchildren should always keep their firearms locked away in a secure place. We're talking common sense here.

Also, two year olds should not be left unattended in a yard or a car even for a couple of minutes. It only takes a few minutes for tragedy to strike, but the after effects last for a lifetime. Please take the time to insure the safety and well being of any innocents in your care. Then if you have a moment to spare, pray for this child and his family. Right now prayer provides the wind beneath their wings on the long road to the child's recovery.