Parents need to be aware of danger

I believe the public needs to have more information about safety issues. My son Shane was 13 when he died from legal fireworks. The mortar prematurely exploded and cracked his skull in half, shattered his forehead to tiny bits, and burned 90 percent of his brain. At 4:47 a.m. on July 16, my son’s heart slowed, then stopped. I held him when he took his last breath and released it. No parent should ever experience the ultimate pain of losing a child. I was the parent who received the phone call to meet the helicopter at Harborview Medical Center that night. I spent 13 days wondering if my son would live or die.

I chose to have children. I love and honor both my boys. I believe it is my responsibility to let other sensible, responsible parents know how dangerous and deadly legal fireworks can be. Only the other bereaved parents I know can really understand what it means (life before and after the death of a child). There is big money made in the sale of fireworks, with no concern for the true safety of human life. I was not present at my son’s accident. The bottom line is, he was killed from legal fireworks. Would you risk any loved one if you were given the safety information about what each firework was capable of doing? The grief over the loss of a child is not easy. Think about that this year if you choose to light any fireworks.

GLENDA LYNCH

Lake Stevens