The Why!

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Before starting the book, this would be a good time to listen to:

Remember This (NBC Olympic Edition) by the Jonas Brothers.

In early June, right after the school year ended, I was undergoing tech

support training at the school district office. I received a message to call

the middle school where I taught. The call was from my school secretary

informing me that one of my students, Charles, and his family had been

in a car accident. Unfortunately, his mother accidentally drove the car

into a canal in Fernley, Nevada.

The secretary confirmed that Charles and his sister, Mary Ann, were

okay. However, Charles's younger sister passed away, and his brother

Robert was in the Intensive Care Unit at Washoe Medical Center. When

I arrived at the hospital, I met Mr. W. in the ICU. Mr. W. was talkative

but not emotional. He needed someone to talk to, and I was there for him

at that moment.

He told me about the accident. He explained that his wife was driving on

a dirt road next to a canal, taking a shortcut through town. Mrs. W.

accidentally drove the car into the canal with her entire family of7

children. The car was carrying all four kids, seat-belted in when it

plunged into the water. Charles, his older sister, and his mother escaped

from the car, but the two youngest children were still trapped inside, their

seat belts keeping them submerged underwater.

After Mr. W. explained the accident to me, a doctor approached him. He

discussed the condition of Robert. The doctor tried to explain that Robert

was on life support and would not recover. Mr. W. had no response. I

was unsure if he was actually listening to the doctor or if he truly didn't

believe what he was hearing. I wasn't sure if he was in shock, denial, or

lacked the mental capacity to understand. Mr. W.'s IQ was around 70 to

80, similar to his wife's IQ.

After the doctor finished and walked away, Mr. W. started talking about

the car his wife had driven into the canal. He said the car could be fixed.

They planned to drain and replace the oil from the engine and

transmission, and the car would be fine.

At that moment, I saw an opportunity to help Mr. W. I took the risk of

clarifying the doctor's explanation to him about his son and checking for

his understanding.

I explained to Mr. W. that the doctor said Robert's brain was not working.

I said to him, " Robert's brain is not like the engine in your car, and you

can't change the oil in Robert's brain to make him live. Your car will be

repaired and run again, but unfortunately, Robert has passed away

because his brain is no longer working."

Mr. W. paused and asked, "What should we do?"8

I explained to him that he needed to talk to his wife, the doctor, and other

family members who could help. I asked him if he needed me to take

Charles and his sister to my house until they were ready to have them

back.

I took Charles and his sister to a pizza place in Gardnerville, Nevada. We

ordered extra pizzas, and we were lucky we did. Charles ate a whole

large pizza by himself! Charles appeared normal, but his sister seemed

lost in thought.

They both stayed with my wife and me for about a week. The parents didn't

call to check on them even once. I contacted the parents a few days later.

During their week-long stay, we played video games, and I took them to

my classroom, where they could relax and play in the technology room.

Even now, more than twenty-five years later, I still can't believe that I

spoke to a parent about what needed to be done and questioned whether

it was my place to say anything about their son's life.

In that moment, I believe I was placed there to help someone understand

something they weren't ready for, and I was the person they trusted.

For some reason, in June, I went beyond my classroom to help a student's

family. I believe most teachers or people in my position would have done

the same thing I did that day.