On January 25, 2000 we buried our 7 year old son; our baby, our angel, our heart. He wasn't sick, he didn't have some horrible disease or tumor. He was, as most 7 year olds are, a happy child full of life and love for everything and everyone.

So how did he die? It was a horrible accident doing something that most kids love to do. He was sledding down a snow-covered hill when the sled veered off course and went straight into a tree. He flew off the sled and his poor little head slammed into the tree. In a little over an hour our little boy lay lifeless on a table in a nearby emergency room.

Now then, why are we sending this email?

We're trying to spark a reaction, a reaction that will spread fast and wide so that no other family, for that matter no other community (his church, his school, the YMCA and the many fathers and sons at that camp that were there that day, his friends, our friends, etc... this tragedy has touched so many here) will ever face and feel what we are feeling now. The feelings at the loss of a child cannot be described unless you have lost one yourself. We hope you never do. So here is the reaction we're looking for:

Joseph's death could have been prevented if he had only been wearing a bicycle helmet or some kind of protective helmet on his head. We realize the news media has just started talking about accidents that happen while sledding and how many children and people are hurt every year, but unfortunately sometimes it takes a tragedy to get the point across.

So we're asking everyone... forward this email to everyone you know, we want the message to spread across the world. Please make sure that your children are wearing their protective helmets when they're riding their bikes, roller blading, skate boarding and please, please when they are sledding too! And parents, your children love you and they need you, wear your protective helmets too.

We thank you.

Note: Mr. Mouaikel is my former boss and in the 3 years I worked for him, he became a friend. His familys' loss has touched me deeply. Having young children of my own, the hits very close to home. Please protect your children.