The Hole In Your Heart
On October 17, 1997 our daughter, Jenni, who was 16 years old, was one
of the three Waubonsie Valley High School students killed by a drunk driver.
This was our day in infamy.
Jenni was so excited
about Waubonsie Valley's Homecoming, which was the weekend of October 17-18.
She was caught up in the festivities and as a representative of the Student Council,
excited about every aspect of the Homecoming Week Festivities. We agonized over our
decision to let her participate in the Waubonsie tradition of TP'ing (toilet papering)
the houses "hiding" the other classes' floats. It wasn't the TP'ing itself that
caused us concern. It was the time of night. We didn't like the fact that the girls
were planning on playing the prank so late in the night. Although reluctantly, we
eventually agreed to let her go because we knew she was responsible and could be
trusted.
Jenni and the other
girls left our house at 3:00 am. Two of the five girls were dropped off at their home.
Jenni, Alli and Jennifer were on their way to Waubonsie to meet up with the other kids who
were out TP'ing other homes. At approximately 4:05 am, a drunken driver, doing 75 mph, ran
a red light and broadsided the girls, killing all three, instantly. This person's blood
alcohol was more than twice the legal limit. By his actions, he has changed our lives
forever.
That Saturday night,
Jenni was to attend her first Homecoming dance. There was an aura of excitement around the
house that came to a crashing halt on October 17th. Instead of seeing her off to her first
big dance, the young man who was to be her date rang our doorbell that Saturday night - not
to pick up Jenni, but rather to console us. He was dressed in his new suit and a boutonniere
was pinned on his lapel. A final farewell gesture to the lovely girl who was to be his
Homecoming date occurred at Jenni's wake. He walked up to her casket and placed her corsage
and dance ticket beside her.
Unless you have lost a
child, you can't begin to understand the knot in your stomach, the hole in your heart and the
mind-altering feelings. Nothing prepares you for it. It is not natural to bury your child.
With Jenni's death, we were given a life sentence without her. The drunken driver was given
13 years, equating to 6 ½ years in prison for his irresponsible act.
We thank AAIM for
their support,
Pam & Shelly Anderson
Addendum: The offender
served 4 years and 2 months, only 1/3 of the original sentence for killing the three girls
and his passenger who was a mother of three children.
