Lindsay Dewey’s Heartbreaking Story: Advocating for Home Safety After Loss
Lifestyle influencer Lindsay Dewey, known for sharing her family experiences on social media, has faced an unimaginable tragedy. Her 22-month-old son, Reed, lost his life in a devastating accident at home, prompting her to share the details in hopes of raising awareness about child safety.
The Incident Unfolds
In a poignant series of posts on her Instagram story, Dewey recounted the unfortunate event that led to her son’s passing. Reed was playing with a suction cup bowl when he inadvertently caused a large mirror to fall on him.
“To make a long story short, apparently Reed had one of his suction cup bowls and stuck it on the mirror and was pulling it ‘back and forth’ to pry it off (we’re assuming) and he pulled the mirror down on himself,” she detailed in a highlight titled “awareness.” Dewey had not realized he was playing near the mirror until she heard it crash down.
Understanding the Impact
Dewey described the mirror as a heavy-duty item that was not anchored to the wall. She had never considered the possibility that her children could accidentally bring it down. “The second I lifted it up I looked at him to see if he was ok…but no… he was not the Reed I knew,” she shared, emphasizing the sudden and tragic turn of events.
The accident resulted in Reed sustaining a fractured skull due to the precise impact of the mirror. This injury led to a severe traumatic brain injury, a situation that no parent anticipates.
A Message of Awareness
Currently grappling with the shock of her loss, Dewey decided to share the details publicly not for attention, but to help prevent similar incidents from occurring to other families. “We don’t want this happening to anybody,” she stated. Family and friends who learned of the incident began to reflect on unsecured items in their own homes, which further underscores the importance of safety precautions.
Despite the potential for backlash from the public, Dewey felt compelled to share their experience. “You have no clue how easy it would be to keep this to ourselves and protect our hearts from the potential backlash especially from strangers,” she admitted. However, she expressed hope that their story could save another child: “This could potentially save another child and that makes all the backlash worth it.”
Safety First: Lessons Learned
- Anchor Heavy Items: Ensure that all heavy items, such as mirrors and large furniture, are properly anchored to the walls to prevent tipping.
- Supervise Play: Always supervise young children during playtime, especially around areas where heavy objects are present.
- Regular Safety Checks: Routinely check your home for unsecured items that could pose a risk to children.
In conclusion, through her devastating loss, Lindsay Dewey has emerged as a powerful advocate for child safety in the home. By sharing her story, she hopes to instigate a broader conversation about securing household items and safeguarding children from preventable accidents.