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i've just read your story; the story of your tragedy, your tremendous love for beautiful harrison. i've been weeping, and at the same time, am amazed that the two of you have found the love and concern for others to share this information. reading your descriptions of your son's personality, sense of humor, the things he loved, that he was the meaning of your life.... it could be me and my husband talking of our son. it's unimaginable that you've lost your son. how could it be? i'm shaken by the reality of this tragedy, and yet so very grateful and so moved that through such deep pain and inconceivable loss, you are reaching out to help others, to give knowledge and teach. i will hold you in my prayers, and remember your sweet and beautiful son, always. you are all in my prayers, and i do believe you will be with harrison again, to hold him, and look in his eyes, and all that you desire, in the eternal place where there is no pain, no death. thank you for what you are teaching and giving to others. may God hold you in his great and loving arms.

sincerely,
robyn nielsen

As a mother of two, beautiful boys; (5 y/o and 1 y/o), I can not begin to imagine the torture and hell you and your family have gone through. It makes me so angry to know that there are parents out there that are so irresponsible and, if I may be blunt, down right stupid to let something like this happen. Harrison is a beautiful little boy and I know that you must be so proud of him, the memories that you carry with you are what keeps him alive! I just want to say that I am so sorry for your loss and pain that you endure everyday of your life. Please know that by reading your story I will be even more alert and careful with my children than I am now. Your story, your son, has made a difference in my life! Thank you and God Bless!

Thank you so much for your story!!

I am still crying!! Keep on telling your story and saving others!! I too will pass on your story and pray for your lose!! I do hope you have more children. You sound like a beautiful couple. I also would like to know how Mrs. Struttmann is doing after her sur.? I myself have 2 children and run a family daycare.

Your story was a great reminder NOT to ever leave the kids in the car even to go back in the house for anything!!

May GOD bless you all!!
Love,
Kelly Johnson from Michigan!

Hello, My name is Maria Rodriguez I work for a program called Baby Bear Hugs it is a program that helps new mothers & old, it's a great program. I'm not at all happy with the couple who could dare do that, not only to your precious child but to there own. I feel your grief, I myself have three children but I would have never left them along in a car. In my line of work I see this allot, I visit Mexican mothers and they need so much help & they need to be educated about things like this and I have done so, I started a mothers group and I told them what had happened to your little angel and I do have to say that after I read your story that I printed from the site We were all crying and said they would never leave their babies along in a car, running or not. Your son was & is beautiful.

Again so sorry
Maria Rodriguez

Dear Fellow Parents,

Thank you for all of your efforts. I am a resident of Belleville, Illinois. Recently while watching the local news I saw the story about Harrison. As a father, I understand the preciousness of the life we create. I can't think of the words to thank you for your caring for all children. The Harrison law is in effect in Illinois, thank you. Every state needs to take an active role in parental accountability. Thank You.

Dear Kids In Cars -

Just saw your story in the news and wanted to let you know you touched someone tonight.

We have a 2 and a 1/2 year old and until tonight, I thought it might be "OK" to leave our son in the car when I went to go get a coffee in the morning.

Due to your story, I will never even consider leaving our child unattended in the car again. Not a real long story but just wanted to let you know your message hit home.

Thank you.
Chris

Thank you so much for responding to my e-mail right away. I was able to print out the attachment you sent me and everything went well. As this was a speech given just by keywords on a notecard, I don't have a copy to send you. But I can say that nearly all of the people in my class (mostly between the ages of 19 - 30 yrs) had a story to share about either having left their child alone or witnessing a child alone in the car. Though I did touch on the many different reasons children should not be left unattended in a vehicle, my presentation focused on the dangers regarding heat. Of the people who said they regularly left their children in the car, they all said they wouldn't be doing it anymore. Most people said they were simply unaware of the dangers involved in this practice. I'm very glad to know that I--through the information on you're website-- was able to open the eyes of many people. My hope is that they will share the news with friends and family, and they will, and so on. I think what you are accomplishing through this website is wonderful. I will be visiting the site often to keep track of what is happening. Keep up the good fight for children everywhere.

Sincerely,
Leah Shimizu

I am deeply sorry for the pain you have to endure for not seeing Harrison grow. He is such a beautiful child. I have to admit that I have left my children alone in the car. After hearing about the twins left in the car that started on fire, I have never left my children alone. I fell ashamed that I was endangering my most valuable possessions. I will pass the information that I have learned today to other parents. I heard about this website on a radio station. I hope that announcement encourages others to visit this site. Thank you for sharing your story. I admire the fact that you used your experience to warn others.

Best regards,
Veronica
In Dallas, TX

I was very touched by Harrison's story. I definitely do not leave my children in cars but I do know other parents that do. I have sent this website to everyone I know and printed it for those who do not have computers. I am very sorry that this has happened. May god bless the parents and all others who knew Harrison. Hopefully, the people that I have sent this to will also be touched and learn from it as well. Thank you so much for publishing this story. I put it in my favorites so that I may refresh my memory every now and then. (because sometimes we forget and begin to stray away from reality)

I have not read everything in this website as of now, but I intend to soon.

Thanks again,
Angela Hand

I have to admit, I have been guilty of leaving my child unattended in the car. After reading your story, I will NEVER do it again. I will also pass the word on.

Thank you for sharing your very painful story. God bless Harrison. His picture will forever be ingrained in my mind. What an angel.

Trish, mom to Michael
Chicago, IL

I found your website accidentally and would like to help you in some way if I can. My heart was broken after reading some of the material on your site. I am willing to help you spread the message in my state and I am quite sure some of my friends will also help out. Could you send me some additional information on how I can become involved in the state of NC

The story you have share of your son is a very painful one. And yes I myself have seen kids (ages 1, 2, 3 years old, to make things worse Infants) left in vehicles unattended. On several occasions I have seen the Mothers or fathers leave there child in the car go inside the store, I live in the desert it get up to 100+ degrees in the summer time. I have stood there and waited to keep an eye on their child and vehicle from a distance. And have told them I have that I stood out there to keep an eye on their child. But from a distance, because I would hate to be accused of trying to break-in to still their vehicle or of kidnapping there child. It should be illegal to leave a child unattended in a vehicle Nation wide. I strongly believe that KIDS `N CARS purpose is just as important as product recalls, car safety seats, airbag protection and therefore the state should support your efforts as well. Because we as a whole will benefit from your hard work. By making people out there aware that it is better to be several minutes late or wasted several minutes than to mourn the life a love one for the just of one's life. I wish and hope that the information you have shared would be given to new mothers and mothers with children already.

Thank you
ADOLFO HERNANDEZ
Ridgecrest, CA

I read you story with a very heavy heart and tear-filled eyes. I am so sorry for your lose. I too have an only child and she means the world to me. I was unable to bear children and after 10 long years adopted my 'angel'. I applaud your courage to help others. Your website is useful and I will pass on the information to all the Child Passenger Safety Classes I teach.

Again, God Bless you for your service to others.

Marsha Rozell
Riverside, CA

Thank you so much for your website--it's very well done and informative. I have two sons, 6 and 7 years old. I am always on the lookout for people who don't care enough about their children to provide the most basic safety.

I printed the page "NOT EVEN FOR A MINUTE" and I intend to put it on every car when I see children unattended. Sometimes parents are just uninformed; sometimes they are just lazy and neglectful. I am happy to have this information to share with people.

I work at Children's Hospital in Seattle and I will also share this information there. Your story touched me deeply and I pray for your family and your beautiful son.

Thank you again for offering such important information.

Rhonda
Seattle, WA

I read your email and must say I support your initiative to prevent the many tragic consequences of leaving a child unattended in any vehicle. My heart goes out to those who have suffered as a result of this practice, which happens everyday, and I feel that legislation, as well as public education on this subject is desperately needed. I live in Independence where the Robel tragedy occurred, and still I see people every other day leaving innocent children responsible for themselves, something they cannot possibly be expected to do. If there is an existing petition towards such legislation, please add my name to it, and in the meantime, I will try to write my local representative regarding this issue.

Sincerely,
Angelina, responsible parent
Independence, MO

You're right cars can be dangerous for kids. It's important to be careful with both kids and cars we are driving. If someone went to the bank for a withdrawal of $1 million they most likely would not leave it in their car to do anything like going into the post office or grocery store. Kids are more important than anything so they also should be brought along when the adults leave the vehicle. I know sometimes any laws will not even keep these tragedies from happening but at the same time they also help. If for no other reason than awareness of the dangers that are out there.

Brent Pennell
Independence, MO

I am sorry for your loss. I have said something to parents several times, before Jake Robel died about leaving their children in the car alone. I watched 3 children, all under the age of 5 in a running car one day. I told the store owner where I was at that they could very well drive right through the store front. They found the parent, and they left. I wish someone had done that for you. If I hadn't said anything, many people might have died that day as well.

My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Love & Light
Fulton, MO

I own a retail store and I'm amazed at the number of parents who will leave a child unattended in a car. I worked with one woman for at least 10 minutes when she announced to me her child was asleep in the car, mind you she not once even looked out to the car. How can I express to these people how wrong it is without offending them. I would love to yell at them, but I am running a business and I don't want to lose potential customers. I did print out your warning "Protect Our Children " and I will post it near the entrance of my store. If you can advise me on a tactful way to let these parents know I would be appreciative.

Sal Megna
West Caldwell, NJ

I was watching the Extra episode that broadcast your website and your story so I decided to check out your website. After reading the stories, I have been bawling. I have 2 young children and know this could happen at any time. Thank you for your informative website!! I will continue to check it, tell my friends about it and will be printing the flyers to keep in my vehicle to place on the windshield of cars where I see children unattended. I also plan to send a donation. I am thankful that I live in a state that does have a law against leaving children unattended in a vehicle, however I plan to find out more info on it. Thanks again for bringing more attention to this issue!

Thanks for your note. I have printed off several of the flyers and am keeping them in both mine and my husband's vehicles and will give them to my neighbors as well. I would like to do what I can to help. I don't have tons of time, but I can update you on incidents of children being left unattended that I see and read about in the local newspapers. I live in the state of Maryland where we do have a law, but from what I read on your website, it's not what I thought it would be. It says something about the children being "out of sight" is illegal. Your story is a perfect example that being "in sight" still doesn't prevent tragedies from happening. I could go in to 7-11 and be able to see my kids in the car, and the way the law reads, that would not be against the law in Maryland.

Also, if there is info you need distributed and other things, I can help. Please just contact me and let me know where I can help.

I also think that it is important that BOTH parents, older siblings, day care providers are all on the same page when it comes to this issue. I can see myself and my husband knowing NEVER to leave our young children unattended, but our teenage children who might not think about it. I think the parent's pledge is great to have posted on the fridge, but this issue needs to be brought to so many people's attention that we deal with every day. WOW, what a daunting task! The more I think, the more people I want to give copies of these flyers to for their info as well as their distribution.

Well, I just wanted to respond to your note. Please let me know what you need done in Maryland and I'll see what I can do!

Sharon
Maryland

Hello! My name is Nicole and I have a 5 month old son. I would never leave him in a car unattended. Just recently there was a story on the news where a woman left her sleeping toddler in a double parked, running car. She ran into a deli and a man took off with her car. Luckily the man saw the child in the back and left the car a few blocks away. I think that it is sad that parents do not think what could happen. I was sitting outside of a Starbucks. A woman in a station wagon pulls up. I look over to see if I knew her and as she is walking towards us I see an infant car seat in the car. I wait til she goes inside to see if she had actually left the baby in the car. She had. The baby was smaller than my son. And on top of that she had left a toddler in there with her. Who cares if you lock the doors. You never know what people are capable of. She didn't even leave any windows cracked either. Every year when the weather starts to get a little nicer you hear of parents leaving kids it boiling hot cars. If people would give themselves an extra 5 to 10 minutes things like this may not happen. Thank you for taking the time to read what I have to say.

Hi, saw you on EXTRA a couple of weeks ago and just found the time to write. I think this is fantastic what you are doing. My family was also a victim of kids left in cars. BOTH my children were either hit or run over by a 4-ton truck almost 5 years ago. Thankfully the angels were watching over them that day. We live on a cul-de-sac with only 12 duplex townhouses so it's a pretty quiet street. My kids had a sleepover the nite before and were walking up the girl's steep driveway to her house. My youngest daughter Chelsea was 5 at the time stopped on the lawn near the driveway to pick up some dropped POGS when a truck came whipping down the hill and knocked my older daughter Caitlyn who was 8 at the time down and under the truck. Chelsea was tossed around the wheel well. The truck then hit a small tree, mailbox, a car and finally came to rest when it hit a house. In the truck were two kids aged two and 5. The two year old put the truck in gear as her father was outside the truck visiting a neighbor. The kids in the truck were unhurt. Our kids were airlifted to UMASS med. center. Both came home the next day. Chelsea broke her upper arm and had a muffler burn on her leg .....Caitlyn only had a gauge on her back that later required plastic surgery.........Both kids were terrified of parking lots and crossing the street after that. We brought them to Disney world 2 months later to help with the fear of parking lots and it worked. The owner of the truck is a firefighter in town and was never charged for the accident. Obviously my husband's friend didn't learn from our lesson. She was loading her car (on a hill) with the kids and went into the house to get the older child. Sean 3 put the car in gear and it rolled down the hill with all the doors open until it hit a stonewall and a tree. Sean was fine.

We will gladly send you newspaper articles on our story for your database.

Thank you
Pauline & Frank Sheehan
Millbury, MA