Remembering Olivia

According to Mother’s Against Drunk Driving, someone is killed in a drunk driving crash every 52 minutes.

In 2010, there were 10,228 deaths associated with drinking and driving.

In 2011, there were 230 deaths from drunk driving in Michigan alone.

Do me a favor, re-read those numbers again.

Now think about it.

Really think about it.

Will you remember those numbers tomorrow? A week from now? A month from now?

Now take a look at this sweet little face.

On June 25th 2012, the minivan in which Olivia (“Lulu”) and her family were riding in, was struck by a drunk driver.  Her mother was left pinned inside the vehicle as her father, a police officer, was able to get out of the car, remove Olivia from her carseat and hand her through a broken window to bystanders who had stopped to help the family as paramedics were in route.  The family of five was transported to the hospital where Olivia’s parents came face to face with their new reality, a parent’s worst nightmare. While their other two children were in stable condition, three year old Olivia did not survive.

Now look at that sweet face a second time. And let that last sentence sink in. Really sink in.

Three year old Olivia did not survive.

On that horrific day, a woman’s selfish and irresponsible decision to drive while under the influence of alcohol changed the lives of Olivia’s parents, her siblings, her family, her community…. and it took hers.
At three years old, Olivia had yet to attend her first day of school, learn to write her name, or how to ride a bike.  At three years old, she still carried her fleece blanket everywhere she went.  At three years old, she had just learned to pump her little legs on a swing.

Fact is, I can list the statistics on drunk driving fatalities but statistics are easily forgotten. Olivia’s smile… not so forgettable.

Two months ago, I wrote about the pain that our police community was suffering as a result of Olivia’s death.  And although the pain will forever be present in the hearts of those who knew and loved Olivia and those who know and love her parents, there is so much we can do for Olivia’s family.

We can promise to never drink and drive.
We can promise to remind our friends and family to never drink and drive.
We can support the movement to make drunk driving crimes more strict, support the idea of decreasing paperwork for police officers when it comes to issuing DUI’s, and we can support the idea of a future without second, third, and fourth time drunk driving offenders.
We can promise to remember Olivia.

And this week, you can help support Olivia’s family by participating in the Friends of the Cleveland Family Benefit being held on Thursday September 20th. The benefit is being held at Rosie O’Grady’s in downtown Ferndale, Michigan where Olivia’s daddy serves and protects as a police officer.  Come out and support the family as we remember Olivia and shower her family with love and support in this difficult time.  If you can not be in attendance, please consider showing your support in other ways: donating to the cause through Credit Union One under the account: Friends of the Cleveland Family, requesting to join the Facebook group “Love for Lulu” and share your support and thoughts with the family, and continue to pray for Olivia and her family.  For more information on the benefit, check out the website at http://clevelandfamilybenefit.org/index.html.

How will you help remember Olivia?