editing

“A Beautiful Soul”

“She had a beautiful smile, big brown eyes” said Veronica Garcia the mother of 4 year old Lilly Garcia. (Kaplan, 2015 para. 3). The Albuquerque Journal reported on a road rage incident that took the life of this child on October 21, 2015. Lilly was riding in the back seat of her dad Adan’s pick-up truck when the incident occurred, Adan, noticed a maroon vehicle cut across traffic forcing him out of his lane, in agitation both the two drivers exchanged words, then the most horrific incident happened, the gunman, Torres, shot into the red pick-up truck, striking 4 year old Lilly. What seems to be a senseless act by two grown adults has not just devastated a public or private family but has impacted an entire community and this one incident was felt across the nation.

Lilly didn’t die at the scene, her father got her out of the vehicle and tried to administer first aide to her; Lilly had been shot in the head. Several motorists stopped and dozens’ of calls flooded into 911, these concerned passer-byers were doing all they could do to get the Garcia family aide as quickly as possible. When the medics arrived they took Lilly’s seven year old away from the scene so other medics assist Lilly and her devastated father. This event has now forever changed the family system of the Garcia family. Not only will the father face post-traumatic stress but so will the 7 year old brother, who was riding in the back seat with Lilly.

When adult actions such as this, result in such devastating tragedy the entire family is affected, the entire family will need many years of therapy to be able to pick up the pieces and move forward. Lilly’s mom, Veronica, was not in the vehicle with them when the incident occurred but just reading in the article, there is a clear description of how much she loved and admired her daughter; she too will suffer this tragedy and the loss a child from this senseless act. As Cherlin stated in the textbook a parents role is to provide love, nurturing and care for their children, (Cherlin, 2013 p.274), which clearly is felt reading about the family and their family life before this happened

When a disaster such as this occur, the father as well as the gunman will have regrets of this happening, but this does not change the fact that the family systems for both parties involved will be changed for the rest of their lives. Veronica and her husband will have to learn a new way of life without their beloved Lilly, they will need to find new ways to help their son deal with the incident that he was a witness to and now the big question, how will this family get back to a routine they once had and how will they find normalcy. There is no doubt they will continue to show love, affection, warmth, and nurturing to their son for years to come. As it was mentioned earlier this just did not affect just the families involved, this has affected an entire community, it has affected the entire state and nation. We have become a nation that is desensitized, to our own race, in order to prevent more of these senseless acts from reoccurring we must first start by being kind to one another.

Reference

Cherlin, Andrew (2012-09-28). Public and Private Families: An Introduction. McGraw-Hill Education. Kindle Edition.

Browman, R., Perez, N., & Kaplan, E. (2015, October 21). Updated: Man charged with murder in 4-year-old's slaying. Retrieved March 29, 2016, from http://www.abqjournal.com/663184/news/family-of-4-year-old-girl-fatally-shot-set-up-go-fund-me-account.html

Kaplan, E. (2015, October 22). Little Lilly's death felt across state, nation. Retrieved March 29, 2016, from http://www.abqjournal.com/663637