Last night I was checking out the Jinkyart Blog, looking for inspiration. I was absolutely dumbstruck and heartbroken at the first post I read....

I thought maybe, just maybe if I brought this to everyone at OSP's attention, it might one day save a precious little life.

A photographer here in Australia named Sheye Rosemeyer just lost her 3 year old daughter Ava, in a terrible, tragic accident. It's hot here in Australia at the moment, and through a series of unfortunate events, little Ava got into the family car on her own, and couldn't get out of the back doors, ironically because of the child safe locks being engaged. She never thought to try a front door, and never knew to honk on the horn for help. By the time she was found.....well... apparently she was in a coma in ICU for 2 days, before passing away.

Please don't pass judgement on this accident unless you care to read the details first. And above all, PLEASE always lock your cars, make sure kids can't get into them, and just in case....show your little ones where the horn is, and how to use it. You're probably like me, unable to imagine a scenario where this could happen to your child....but show them anyway. And please send some prayers to Sheye and her family....

In case you care to look at Barb Uil's post on this....it's very beautiful by the way. Sheye asked that any friends (around the world) release 3 pink balloons for Ava on the day of her funeral, and photograph them drifting off into the sky.

Jinkyart Blog

And a New Zealand photographer named Mandi Haynes explained the details of the accident on her Blog

I don't mean to be morbid...or unnecessarily publicise someone elses grief ....but there is a lesson in this tragedy. I can't stop thinking about it, and hope it's appropriate to post this as a warning about safety with cars and children.

Annie

Annie, how sad. Thank you for passing it on.

Ginger

One little BUMP....

Reading a bit further into other photographers blogs, Sheye has expressed a desire for as many parents as possible to be warned about this.....not surprisingly.

Annie

I read this and it breaks my heart! I have a little girl and I can't even imagine the pain that the family must be going through.

Very tragic. Thank you very much for passing on.

I am so sorry. My heart goes out to the family and my thoughts are with them.
This post is an inadequate attempt to hold them the way I wish I could.

I read this last night and forgot to post I was crying so much

Thinking about their family.

Edit: I read Mandi and Barb's blog, and went to Sheye's blog...there are many pictures of Ava and thats when I started bawling.

I know what you mean Joy. I have cried....possibly too much over this. I found a link to Sheye's Blog on Mandi Haynes site, and for reasons I'm not sure of myself I went in for a look. It left me utterly devastated, and honestly wondering why I went looking in the first place. I suppose bawling my eyes out won't do me any harm, and if it serves as a reminder to me how precious and fragile my children are, and how vigilent I need to be keeping them from harm, I suppose it's not a bad thing to feel so much grief. I don't know this family, and I can't even imagine what it would be like to live through this. It has made me think very deeply about my own family though.

Thank you for posting this Annie. I edited my response above as to why I was crying so much. I would not have known about this if you haven't posted and you're right, it makes you really think.

Heartbreaking, just hearbreaking. Thank-you for sharing this information with us.

I just came across this post. It's so tragic and sad. I can't even imagine the panic, and then the moment when the worst of nightmares came true in finding their sweet little girl...the moment no parent ever wants to have happen. My heart just breaks and aches for them.

I hate crying like a baby...
ugh...
It took me about 15 min to compose myself before I could walk out of the office...
One of the hardest things about deal with, besides feeling the heartbreak of the parents, would be trying to explaing that God's will to them...
aw man...

Hear I go again...

Thanks for passing it on Annie.

I feel like I could throw up thinking about losing one of my babies. Thank you for posting this so we can pray for her family! Melissa