Unless you have been living under a rock or are not from western PA, you have heard the story of Ava Campbell. And, unless you are completely void of empathy, your heart broke into a million pieces for her family, especially after finding out the horrible and mind-blowing details of that night.
I did not know Ava's mom or dad, but my husband does. I can't even say that I knew Ava, but I did meet her. More than once. My mom and I have painted her face for years at the Cherry City Street Fair (my dad also was a volunteer fireman when I was little, just like Ava's.) I couldn't forget her. She really was what everyone is saying she was...cute, spunky, funny, beautiful, and friendly. This year, I think she was also a pink fox.
I cannot even imagine the grief her parents are experiencing. Not even for a moment. The strength of her mother, Amber, is a strength few could even begin to understand, and even fewer would want to. I have been so lucky in my life so far as a mother. So few worries and so few trips to Childrens...
When I think about all the times we have played outside at night, all the times she has gone swimming, fell, ran into something...when her doctors thought she might have a seizure disorder and we went to Children's to have an EEG, had her blood taken...times I thought, even for a second "What would I ever do without her?" Heidi is my everything. My reason for living, my purpose, my most precious and ever-present gift. How could I live without her? And now there is another on the way. How will I protect him or her and keep them both safe from the evil of this world? That helpless feeling is, in my opinion, the worst part of parenting, and the Campbells know it more than any parents should ever have to.
Speaking of that evil-I also cannot say that I know who Travis Grayson is. I don't know if he is really the horn-wearing, trident-toting devil I see when I look at his picture, or if he just made an incredibly selfish decision that destroyed and devastated an entire community- leaving an innocent family broken, left to pick up pieces that should never have been shattered. If the things I have read are true, though-he was given permission to act this way...by our leaders. By the people we have voted into offices to keep us safe and keep our community striving to be a place we want to raise our children, not bury them. How does someone, at 20 years old, get so many free passes at the law? I am pretty sure this monster was created, not born. No wonder he makes decisions without a thought to the consequences. They have never mattered before. Why would they have mattered on Saturday?
I won't say I never made a dumb decision at 20. I still do because I am not perfect. I don't expect perfection from others either. I do expect accountability when you break the law though. I expect there to be punishment handed down for driving drunk (no matter your age or who you know), for being drunk before the law allows, for being a 3rd time offender...I think we can all clearly see how lessening a repeat offender's charges
I pray each night, and will continue to pray that The Campbells find even a small amount of peace in knowing that Ava is with God, perfect and beautiful as always, watching over her sisters, waiting for them to join her in paradise. While my heart continues to break, along with so many others, I hope and pray that something positive makes it's way out of this absolute disaster.
