tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post8474262859462756779..comments2023-11-02T02:40:48.410-07:00Comments on Crime Fiction Collective: Murder Most FoulL.J. Sellershttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-61778951526656637762013-10-03T20:08:21.595-07:002013-10-03T20:08:21.595-07:00Sheila, when I saw the title for this entry, I had...Sheila, when I saw the title for this entry, I had to wait. I knew I could not read it, not at first. I had to prepare myself. The preparation wasn't good enough.<br /><br />So all I'll say is, regarding your advice about abusers - yes. We need to know more, inform more, and provide more support for the victims and consequences for the abusers. Yes, we need to that.<br /><br />Thank you, for your courage. Thank you for sharing. And may the memory - and presence - of your daughter be a source of blessings, in this world and the world to come.David Y.B. Kaufmannhttp://www.davidybkaufmann.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-29073108520315619452013-10-01T22:03:34.610-07:002013-10-01T22:03:34.610-07:00I used to think I knew what to say, but you have h...I used to think I knew what to say, but you have heard it all. Life is not fair but it's all we've got that we are sure about. The world hasn't been getting any better lately. I'm sorry that you and your child were in the vanguard of the age of violence and I am amazed and glad you have been able to make it make any sort of sense. It is what it is and we carry on until we don't. You've done well with your life and have made what you've gone through count. That is the best that can happen. :-(Marihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11028450134783487993noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-29020398392800457982013-10-01T20:22:39.571-07:002013-10-01T20:22:39.571-07:00We are all connected on the other side. Your hone...We are all connected on the other side. Your honesty and courage are a testament to your character and your daughter knows this of you.Leah Von Leuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07515880078923561242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-74720187053928849062013-10-01T20:22:38.129-07:002013-10-01T20:22:38.129-07:00We are all connected on the other side. Your hone...We are all connected on the other side. Your honesty and courage are a testament to your character and your daughter knows this of you.Leah Von Leuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07515880078923561242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-7565550219719595402013-10-01T20:22:12.759-07:002013-10-01T20:22:12.759-07:00We are all connected on the other side. Your hone...We are all connected on the other side. Your honesty and courage are a testament to your character and your daughter knows this of you.Leah Von Leuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07515880078923561242noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-59794220837658569422013-10-01T15:27:41.422-07:002013-10-01T15:27:41.422-07:00What am amazing bunch of stories have been told he...What am amazing bunch of stories have been told here--so much pain and so much strength. Thank you all for sharing. <br />Marilyn--I used to ask myself whether it was worse to lose your child instantly, as I did, or to watch him or her waste away, as you did. The fact is, there is no worse. Either way we are left with loss. <br />Kate-Eileen (which is it?), you made the best choice for you, and your daughter's killer will continue to pay. I don't believe in a burning hellfire, but I do believe we have to account for what we do. Two favorite books: One Last Time by John Edward, and Journey of Souls by Michael Newton. Sheila Lowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444737798319597136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-73968905750599960282013-10-01T15:14:02.097-07:002013-10-01T15:14:02.097-07:00I know the telling is both painful and helpful. Mo...I know the telling is both painful and helpful. Mothers are not supposed to bury their children. I lost my grown son to another murderer--cancer. God helped me through it all. Marilyn Meredith a.k.a. F. M. Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04179984154939161530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-16951087370640589702013-10-01T14:24:43.747-07:002013-10-01T14:24:43.747-07:00Sheila ~ you are such a courageous woman, and I to...Sheila ~ you are such a courageous woman, and I too thank you for sharing your story. I can only wish you peace and healing.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07383329889855942977noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-15863838509367840472013-10-01T14:04:08.200-07:002013-10-01T14:04:08.200-07:00We knew who it was. It was a very circumstantial c...We knew who it was. It was a very circumstantial case and when the decision was made that she was brain dead, I had the detectives in and the ADA. They told me a conviction would be difficult and my son and I would go through a lot. I was going ahead. But then I discovered in FL law, if there is to be an autopsy, they could not remove all the tubes and needles, etc. and it was more important to me and my son that we could get in the bed and hold her for the tiny bit of time after the plug was pulled. There is some tiny bit of justice though. The man has no quality of life left between his former employers and the local police, lost his home, was turned away by his relatives... I have to be content with that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-59894345043738277022013-10-01T13:32:01.647-07:002013-10-01T13:32:01.647-07:00Wow, Eileen--that's a very strange coincidence...Wow, Eileen--that's a very strange coincidence. Thank you for sharing it. Your poem also reminds me of the one I wrote for Jen (she was 27) on the day of her funeral. <br />I hope that you, too, have the comfort of knowing Brigid is still very connected to you. Was the killer caught?Sheila Lowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444737798319597136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-9875099678235352222013-10-01T13:03:03.473-07:002013-10-01T13:03:03.473-07:00My heart stopped for a second when I read this. My...My heart stopped for a second when I read this. My daughter died the very same day at the age of 19 (http://kateeileenshannon.com/2013/08/21/brigid/), also murdered. She had also had a serious head injury. A friend came to me after first meeting my daughter and said she didn't know how to say this, and I would think she was nuts, but Brigid would die at someone else's hand. I wish I had listened but I did think she was nuts. She is with me every minute of every day so I understand how you feel. When I named my protagonist after her, people thought it was some weird tribute or virtual shrine or something. I just explain that Brigid was such a bossy little miss that if she was here and I told her I was writing a book, she would have insisted she be the star. To write a real book about the real Brigid is something I doubt I would ever have the strength to do. My heart goes out to you, Sheila.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-58493056289541686792013-10-01T12:51:52.139-07:002013-10-01T12:51:52.139-07:00How do you ever get over something like this? You ...How do you ever get over something like this? You don't. I am sorry for the pain and loss you live with every day.Mar Prestonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11378622704056377174noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-6130585845758638172013-10-01T12:43:45.404-07:002013-10-01T12:43:45.404-07:00I was shocked when you first told me this story. W...I was shocked when you first told me this story. Words seem inadequate. Still, my condolences. You never get over a loss that this.Pattyhttp://www.patriciasmiley.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-90503685823359348452013-10-01T12:08:16.554-07:002013-10-01T12:08:16.554-07:00Cindy, you are doing such an important work. Thank...Cindy, you are doing such an important work. Thank you for participating. Here's an irony--Jen worked for Child Protective Services. Sheila Lowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444737798319597136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-9223067571699527242013-10-01T11:52:20.948-07:002013-10-01T11:52:20.948-07:00Sheila, I had no idea of your loss. My heart goes...Sheila, I had no idea of your loss. My heart goes out to you. I applaud you for sharing this information. I'm involved in the El Dorado County Women's Center and the stories I hear just sicken me. The more we can learn about all of this can only help these women and hopefully, help the abusers change as well.Cindy Samplehttp://www.cindysamplebooks.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-26754588288078336322013-10-01T11:43:30.268-07:002013-10-01T11:43:30.268-07:00You had a lot of pain. I can understand grieving s...You had a lot of pain. I can understand grieving someone while they're still alive. {{{hugs}}}Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-38081133283681330262013-10-01T11:31:29.286-07:002013-10-01T11:31:29.286-07:00This comment has been removed by the author.Sheila Lowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444737798319597136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-74571661509945213022013-10-01T11:29:35.523-07:002013-10-01T11:29:35.523-07:00Thanks to all of you. Perhaps I should add that al...Thanks to all of you. Perhaps I should add that almost immediately, I accepted what had happened and dealt with it in a way that seemed to surprise people. I later came to understand that because Jennifer put herself in so many horrible situations that I did much of my grieving while she was still on the earth. Once she was gone, I knew that nobody could hurt her anymore. Though I hated what he did, I never experienced anger with Tom because I understood what had happened.Sheila Lowehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02444737798319597136noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-65805028074820714482013-10-01T11:07:50.821-07:002013-10-01T11:07:50.821-07:00Sheila, thank you for sharing your daughter's ...Sheila, thank you for sharing your daughter's story. I want to second what Llyn K. said about strength and love for you.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-53395320702055834892013-10-01T10:53:12.277-07:002013-10-01T10:53:12.277-07:00I hope that you feel strength and love from all th...I hope that you feel strength and love from all the people that read this today. There is nothing harder than losing a child. Wishing serenity for you.Llyn K.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-20920264404616358192013-10-01T10:22:51.200-07:002013-10-01T10:22:51.200-07:00What a tragic story, Sheila. I'm in awe of you...What a tragic story, Sheila. I'm in awe of your strength.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12487464497446199247noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-82784509776840818472013-10-01T10:03:48.662-07:002013-10-01T10:03:48.662-07:00Thanks for sharing this very moving post, Sheila. ...Thanks for sharing this very moving post, Sheila. I hope writing about it helps you deal with this tragedy.Jodie Rennerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17180607353893233389noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-78685258629570060122013-10-01T09:55:53.939-07:002013-10-01T09:55:53.939-07:00Oh, Sheila… my heart goes out to you. I knew some ...Oh, Sheila… my heart goes out to you. I knew some of this story of yours before, but it seems like little by little, you're able to provide more details of that horrific time in your life.<br /><br />As someone who has never been abused, it's difficult to even begin to imagine how it might happen. And yet I have friends and family who have lived through the experience—and probably more who are living it today.<br /><br />This is an important post, Sheila. Thank you for writing it.Peg Brantleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04906858123466177508noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4954486699810607306.post-23565586187158924872013-10-01T07:29:31.407-07:002013-10-01T07:29:31.407-07:00Words fail me...yet I'll try. First, thanks fo...Words fail me...yet I'll try. First, thanks for sharing this. I know it was painful to write. And my condolences on your loss. Losing a child is what every parent fears more than anything. Because there is no real recovery.<br /><br />The head injury information is also stunning, and it's making me look at someone I know in a new and worried way. <br /><br />For readers: I second Sheila's advice. Abusive situations never get better, only worse. I speak from experience. I'm lucky to be alive. My thanks also for reminding me to be grateful for that every day. L.J. Sellershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10213491074676394406noreply@blogger.com