Tim Horton told this story on his Facebook page. It is a very troubling story and I am very grateful Tim's family is OK. Prayers go out to the other family. Terrible experience that I hope no one on the Forum has to go through.
Timmy Horton Outdoors
Before I went to bed Saturday night, Leah and I had one of our good talks about life. We discussed finding the positive in tough situations. Little did we know that in just a few hours our world would be shook like it never had before. Leah, my youngest daughter and I have a much different relationship than most Father/Daughter relationships. We have been this way since Leah was about three....really more like best friends than father/daughter, It’s just one of those things that is hard to explain. Lauren, my oldest daughter, and I also have the same closeness, she will come into my room where I’m working and just sit and talk...not the norm for a busy, soon to be 18 year old. The two are very different. Lauren is much more independent, and....well...a good bit more responsible...in which, Leah would whole heartedly agree with.
The last six months or so has been overwhelming at work to say the least, and this time of year I try to take advantage of every opportunity to be at home that I can. I had worked all day Saturday in Guntersville and had an opportunity for one more evening at home before I left for the next seven days. So instead of leaving Guntersville for Lake Martin, I decided to drive back across the state to see the family one last night before hitting the road. It was a wonderful evening, Kim had cooked a big pot of beef stew and all the kids were there. Lauren came down and visited a while and said she was going to spend the night at her friends house afterwards. Lauren is about to turn 18 in a few weeks and has probably asked to spend the night away from home on two other occasion this entire year....never breaks curfew, and doesn’t ask to push things as a lot of teenagers do. I told her that was fine but to be careful and keep me posted. She gave me her “Lauren hug” as we call it, told me she loved me, and left for the night.
After Leah and I solved all the worlds problems, I went downstairs where Kim was packing my bags for the next week ahead. We got everything done, enjoyed some laughs and went to sleep. What was to come was as fiercely traumatic as anything I have ever had happened. We were suddenly awaken a few hours later to a constant doorbell ringing. Before my feet hit the floor my first thoughts were Lauren. I raced to the door and saw flashlights outside the door. When I opened the door the flashlights shut off. Two police officers were looking at me, I said “where is Lauren” they said. “We need to come in and talk please” I said again, “Tell me where Lauren is” they said “We need to come in and sit down and talk with you.”
The look on their face was so absolute. At this very moment there was zero doubt in my mind why they were there. I understand there is a protocol and this task is impossible anyway, but I so wish I would have been asked my name when the door opened. By this time, Leah is looking down from her room in shock, and Kim has met me at the door. I ask one more time in the foyer and they say can we go inside to talk. Kim and I go to our room to quickly get dressed. At this time my senses had all gone blank, I couldn’t hear, everything was echoed and as if it was being said in a barrel from hundreds of feet away. I couldn’t get my legs raised to get my jeans on as I started to shake uncontrollably. Kim and I went into the den where the two officers were staring at us with their hats clinched in their hands. I have never seen such empathy in someone’s face.
My mind was racing a hundred miles an hour trying someway to fix an unfixable situation....thinking of a way not to be told what I was about to hear. After what seemed like an eternity of silence one of the officers asked for my name. I couldn’t speak but somehow got my name out, the officer then asked Kim her name. As Kim said her name the officers turned and stared at each other. Kim collapsed to the floor, as if her legs were knocked out from under her. I was paralyzed and couldn’t even move to help her up, I couldn’t speak I couldn’t look up I was in complete shock. My body just shook uncontrollably. I have heard folks say “you can’t explain it” there are no words, no expression....that type of pain, emptiness, and helplessness doesn’t have an explanation.
After what seemed like an eternity, the officers then realized they were speaking to the wrong parents. The vehicle license plate from the accident was registered to the family that lived there prior to us buying the house, and it still had that address. All of what happened next was a blur. I immediately called Lauren and talked to her as best I could. I couldn’t gather myself from crying.
Over the next several hours I was crushed for the other family and what they were about to go through and will continue to go through, the officers, who had to gather themselves and go to another home and do that again. All my friends with whom I have grieved with over the years and now feeling guilty myself for never truly understanding their pain. It has now been 2 days and I still have not rested. That night, and a family I have never known will be a part of our life forever. I hurt for them and what they continue to endure. Kim and I have prayed for them earnestly since that night. I don’t know how or in what way to say anything of comfort to those who have lost a child. Kim told me the next morning, she could never survive anything like that again, I told her the only way is through Faith in God. That night, I stared at the ceiling til the sun came up. I thought of the Isbell’s, the Short family, the Strickland’s, my Grandparents, and so many that have went through that moment, and for them...the moment continued.
No mistake. But a next...a next breath, then somehow taking another one, then another, that continued through each passing second that feels like years.
Please pray for the family that lost their son, and all those who have lost a child. Those that find the strength to carry on and honor their child through their life....that is strength...a strength that can only be explained through Faith.
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