Anyone watch the Brooke Ellison Story?

MommyToAshley wrote: DH and I watched the Brook Ellison story last night. (We taped it and just had the chance to watch it) The movie is based on the story of an 11 year old girl that was hit by a car and was paralyzed from the neck down. The movie was really a celebration of her life and all that she had accomplished, she really is amazing. But I couldn't help but to think of how this poor girl's life changed in a matter of a few seconds. I cried through the entire movie. And, then I became so scared because I realized that it can happen to anyone... I couldn't bear it if anything happened to Ashley. I couldn't sleep the entire night.

I just read Amy's post about the Mom who was crossing the street, and I looked over at Ashley who is coloring at the desk right beside me, and I started crying.

Am I the only one that is so affected by these events? My heart just breaks for these parents, while at the same time I am so scared that something could happen to Ashley.

favre4fan replied: I wanted to watch that!!!!

A&A'smommy replied: OMG no I didn't even know it was on (or who she is). I feel the same way you do I'm am TERRIFIED that something bad will happen so Alyssa but I think all we can do is pray that it wont.

kit_kats_mom replied: I live in la la land now.

When K was first born, I was a basket case. Couldn't sleep because I'd lie in bed and imagine horrible things like what kind of casket I'd buy her if she died & how she'd look lying in it. Or how could I save her if I was in an accident and pinned in the car but she wasn't breathing in the backseat I wasn't trying to think these things, they'd just pop into my head as I started to drift off to sleep then I'd be up for hours sobbing. It was awful.

I finally decided that it was taking a toll on me and now I really try to not think about all of the things in this world that can hurt her or take her away from me. I try to focus on what we have and stay in the moment. If something does ever happen to her (god forbid) I will have my memories of the great times we have had.

I hate to dwell on the bad stuff...it really effects me.

coasterqueen replied: This is one reason I try not to read certain posts..especially the very sad ones. I just dwell too much on things like this and it is so unhealthy for me. I can't even watch movies like this or I'd be a basket case.

jcc64 replied: I think it goes with the territory of being a mom and loving your children so much that it hurts sometimes.
It's obvious to me that you have a profound sense of empathy and concern for others, Dee Dee, which predisposes you to suffer when you see others suffering. My advice, I guess, is to avoid watching those kinds of movies if your imagination punishes you with those kinds of fears too regularly. I too am a big worrier, and have all sorts of maneuvers that help me to avoid going to those dark places in my mind, but it's a constant struggle.
All I can say is, worrying like that can become a way of life. But it's no way to live. Horrible, horrible stuff can and does happen to those we love, but worrying about it before the fact won't prevent it from happening, and it WILL rob you of the ability to fully enjoy the good times when you're blessed with them. And then there's the potential to burden your child with your unnecessary anxiety, kwim? Am I making sense? I don't mean to babble about this, but it's something I spend a lot of time dealing with, and I hope my thoughts might help light a spark for you.

Jamison'smama replied:
Very well said---I need to take this advice myself---I worry everytime I see these things--my heart breaks to think of something happening to Jama---not because I can't handle it--but I would ache for her if she were to lose some sort of function--sight, walking etc.--I ache and worry to an extreme sometimes--it was bad enough seeing Jamison having breathing difficulties and being hospitilized--then I saw the children with chronic illnesses and thanked God that what she has is treatable--then you start to think..what if....and I have to force myself not to do that. Glad I'm not alone..thanks for the words of wisdom.

kit_kats_mom replied:
You are such a well spoken lady. That's pretty much what I was trying to get across too.

What a great resource you are Jeanne...what would we do without you?

coasterqueen replied: I agree...Jeanine you said it very well.

MommyToAshley replied: Thank you all for your responses. It's good to know I am not alone.

And, thank you, Jeanne for the great advice. As always, your words have a way of making a difference.

favre4fan replied: i finally saw this movie last night they had rerun it. It was a very moving story.

jcc64 replied: Thanks for the kind words guys!

Kaitlin'smom replied: thats why I dont watch certain things anymore, I used to love watching lifetime moves, but I can hanlde seeing may of them anymore it causes way to may what if's

Kirstenmumof3 replied: I watched a bit of it lastnight, but fell asleep and missed how it ended! I get very emotional when I watch movies like this, especially since in 2 years Emily will be the age that Brooke was when she was paralized! I think it's a normal reaction!

Maddie&EthansMom replied: You aren't alone in feeling this way. I, too get so scared. That is why the light the night walk was so important to me. I must have sounded obsessed with the thing, but my greatest fear is that one of my children will get cancer...my greatest blessing is that they don't have it. Either way I feel for the families who have had to endure such a loss and I will help in anyway I can to prevent it from happening to another family.

I cannot watch shows like this. Usually I can't read things like Amy's post. It freaks me out, but it also gives me the chance to appreciate all I have. I have enough trouble keeping these horrible thoughts out of my mind without something to provoke it. I seriously think about these things ALL THE TIME. It haunts me and wakes me up at night. Just last night I couldn't get back to sleep b/c a horrifying picture entered my brain.

I'm VERY protective when it comes to my children. One mosquito bite or boo boo sends me into panic mode and makes me ill. I'm crazy by most people's standards. I do allow my children to learn, experience and have fun, but in my house or MY backyard with ME at their side (most of the time).

I was not raised this way. As a matter of fact most of my childhood we lived in a very bad neighborhood on a very busy street and we were allowed to roam the neighborhood at a small age. My mom never thought twice about letting us do that. I'm constantly thinking about molestors in the bathrooms, kidnappers roaming the neighborhood, drunk drivers, I could go on and on. My mother doesn't think about these things. I couldn't and wouldn't live with myself if something happened to my children that I could have controlled. I know me and I know I would lose my mind. My husband (fortunately) shares my fears.

Of course things happen to our children that is totally out of our control. My belief is that God is ultimately in control.

Maddie&EthansMom replied:

Thank you Jeanne! That really helped me so much and put a lot in perspective! I agree, what would we do without you!

My2Beauties replied: OH man you guys things like this have so hit home with me the past few weeks. First there was the Light the Nigh Walk that Aimee went on and I just remember driving home from work right after mailing out my donation to Aimee and I started crying really hard thinking of Hanna's face and how if she ever had cancer like that poor baby did I would die right with her!!!!

I don't deal with death well at all. I think about it constantly with everyone in my family, my mom, my dad, Brian, Hanna, Desiree...it scares me to a point where I can cry at the drop of a hat if the thought enters my mind. When that post was put up about the little baby and the other little girl getting hit in the stroller, driving home from work (again) I pictured myself on the sidewalk pushing Hanna in a stroller and someone veering off the road and hitting her sending her out of her stroller...just horrible vision enter my mind!!! Back in May I accidentally ran a red light in the rain when vision was bad and hit another car, totaling mine, and started thinking OMG what if that would have been a pedestrian or a child??? I wish I could stop them because they really tear me up and send me into a weird panic attack!!!

I also dream of my own death like if something were to happen to me how Brian would handle it and how bad my family would take it and stuff. It's awful. I always dream of dying some horrible death in a car accident or something.

Jeanne I think your advice was right on point, I've started to try and shift ghears when these things pop in my mind, because I would cry so bad people would know I was crying when I got home from work and be like are you ok??

So Dee Dee you definitely aren't the only one!!