Grimformation

When you read a horrible story, or see it on the news, you think... "What a shame." Then you sort of file it for future discussion, or reference. It's very different when it happens to someone you know. 

One of the professors at my school has had the most horrible thing I could ever possibly imagine, happen to him. It's been all over the newspapers, the television news was interviewing him, and it seemed very difficult for me to put those film clips together with the humorous, lively gentleman that I see all the time. Everyone that works in the department, looks so sad. He was the biological sciences chair. He has subbed in classes that I have taken, and helped me when I had questions or problems. He is a very nice guy, and highly respected on campus. 

It's been bothering me ever since, and I am pretty sure he called a radio show today and asked for advice. 

His wife, killed his 17 month old child. He has another child, three, and his stepson, who is fifteen. I cannot even imagine what it would be like to go through losing a child, and not only that, but basically seeing his family dissolve before his eyes. How do the other children put their mind around that as they grow towards adulthood? 

Having the spouse you loved and trusted, kill your child. He came home from class that night, and his entire life was shattered into tiny bits. During the TV interview, they asked if he has seen his wife, since she had been taken away. He just very calmly said, "I am sure there will be opportunities to see her in the future." 

This whole event has been haunting me since it happened. I cannot walk past his office without looking to see if there are new notices on the door.  I wanted to drop a sympathy card in the envelope that the other professors put there, but I am thinking that just is not going to come close to helping this situation. What can you say or do that would help? All I can do is send good thoughts, or pray... but it's not going to change anything, or help him. 

He has taken an indefinite leave of absence. I hope he will survive all of this.