CA: Natasha Richardson Critically Injured

What a sad story.

When my husband and I went skiing last year in the US (only his second time), he had to rent equipment, and a helmet came free with the rental. At first he refused it, but on second thought decided to go ahead and get one. He actually did fall and bang his head pretty hard that day, and was glad that he had it on.

This poor lady! Regardless of how she met her end, she did, in a sudden and very tragic way.

She left behind a husband, two young sons, a sister, a mother.  It is a mother's worst nightmare, to leave this world before her children are well-grown.  She was such a mother to two young sons. 

Oh, her poor mother, too! My mother is just a few years younger than her mother, and sadly, some of her friends' daughters have already passed away (well, two, from cancer) Their mothers' grief knows no bounds.  They are widows of happy marriages lasting decades, but their grief on losing their children is so profound, so heavy it is truly heartbreaking. It is a terrible, awful thing to lose your child no matter what their age. 

I have a husband whom I love so much, but we both agree, far, far worse would be for your child to die.

Surely it's not the time to be speculating on any mistake she could possibly have made that contributed to her demise, which from what I can see are none.

May God rest her soul and bring peace to those she left behind.

So so true. Amen to that!

It's known colloquially as 'talk and die' syndrome.

Yeah, that's what I heard too. It's scary to know that things can kill you that quickly But, I guess we can all learn a lesson to try and enjoy life while we have it, even in times like these where there's a lot of problems in the world, because it's not really ever guaranteed.

too right, Kittenfish!

i think it's because, too, when you're a parent, you always think of your child as just that, as a baby and then a child.  and when they are grown, you are very happy, especially if and when you see them in their own way, perhaps with a family if that is what they had wanted, or otherwise. 

but you always remember when you sat up with them at 3 in the morning, and held them close and they smelled for all the world like the finest thing you knew you'd ever smell in this life and they were yours, yours, yours!  And even better if they were yours and someone you love or once loved as desperately as any song ever sung.

and to have to bury them is not just the death of you but of at least part of your very soul, for they were all you ever dreamed of.

my man, my husband.  one day one or the other of us will have to bury the other.  we knew that when we married.  we even said, 'till death do us part.'

but there's no such thing when it's your child.  you don't say anything, you have no need to, because you loved them even when they were just an idea in your head.  and when they're born you know, 'i will love you forever.' 

and it means just that.

Beautifully written!  :\\\'(

I just feel so, so sorry for her family, and for anyone who has suffered such a loss. 

It just doesn't seem appropriate to speculate, 'Oh, if she'd worn a helmet' 'if she'd gone to hospital straightaway.'

The poor lady fell in front of her boys and, typical strong Mammy, didn't want to make a big fuss, felt okay, maybe laughed it off. 

No way she'd have taken such a chance had she known.  No mother would.  No woman who know well how important she was to everyone would have. 

Just hug your kids.  Kiss your husband.  Ring your Mama and your sister and tell them you love them and miss them.

 :\\\'(

It can happen with neck injuries, too. My ex-BF's boss was in a car accident in Baltimore, got out, checked the other people involved and the car, phoned for help, phoned his wife to say he was ok and was dead a few hours later. It was just awful.


MTA: I posted this thinking I was still on page 3 of the thread - I hadn't seen page 4 yet. Beautifully written Expat. As someone who lost her father at the age of 10, I know how hard it can be for the children.  :\\\'(

I wasn't speculating, but I removed my previous post to avoid seeming insensitive. 

Hoping for healing for those who cared about her.

Yeah, that's what I heard too. It's scary to know that things can kill you that quickly But, I guess we can all learn a lesson to try and enjoy life while we have it, even in times like these where there's a lot of problems in the world, because it's not really ever guaranteed.

Very well said Kittenfish. I work with the aged and disabled right now, and I've learned so much from my time here. People die around me all the time (at least 1 or 2 a week), and it's really brought home the message to try and always show appreciation and love for those we care about and not waste a minute of life.

This poor lady! Regardless of how she met her end, she did, in a sudden and very tragic way.

She left behind a husband, two young sons, a sister, a mother.  It is a mother's worst nightmare, to leave this world before her children are well-grown.  She was such a mother to two young sons. 

Oh, her poor mother, too! My mother is just a few years younger than her mother, and sadly, some of her friends' daughters have already passed away (well, two, from cancer) Their mothers' grief knows no bounds.  They are widows of happy marriages lasting decades, but their grief on losing their children is so profound, so heavy it is truly heartbreaking. It is a terrible, awful thing to lose your child no matter what their age. 

I have a husband whom I love so much, but we both agree, far, far worse would be for your child to die.

Surely it's not the time to be speculating on any mistake she could possibly have made that contributed to her demise, which from what I can see are none.

May God rest her soul and bring peace to those she left behind.

Well said, expat.

i agree that what everyone has said is touching, and i hope this isn't taken the wrong way, but i think it's important that people not be afraid of seeming insensitive by taking the time to acknowledge that helmets are important.  there is no way to know when an accident may happen or how severe it could be, but helmets can and do save lives.  i say this having witnessed an 11 year old childhood friend die from a brain injury on a neighborhood street while riding his bike without a helmet.  i feel as if i'm honoring his memory each time i remind someone to wear a helmet and i don't think i'm being insensitive to or making any judgments on his death by doing so.   

Ugh. My 3-year-old just fell head-first REALLY, REALLY HARD onto a hardwood floor and his temple/side of forehead swelled up immediately. After a quick wrestle with myself about taking him to the ER or not, I thought about this tragedy.

So my husband just left for the ER. I wonder what tests they will actually do? I feel like forcing my kids to wear helmets all the time right now. 

Ugh. My 3-year-old just fell head-first REALLY, REALLY HARD onto a hardwood floor and his temple/side of forehead swelled up immediately. After a quick wrestle with myself about taking him to the ER or not, I thought about this tragedy.

So my husband just left for the ER. I wonder what tests they will actually do? I feel like forcing my kids to wear helmets all the time right now. 

I hope everything turns out ok. 

So my husband just left for the ER. I wonder what tests they will actually do? I feel like forcing my kids to wear helmets all the time right now. 

Safest to get it checked out soonest.  It is scary.
My grown son (who is 6'2") walked into the sloping ceiling of his girlfriend's garage and clonked the side of his head.  They thought nothing of it but later when they went inside he kept falling asleep so she took him to the ER.  They did a CAT scan and said he was concussed but OK.  We still had to keep an eye on it for a day or two.
Hope your little one will be OK.