Alyssa Nicole Parker
"Lissy"
August 11^th 2002 - January 15^th 2006


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This is my daughter Alyssa. As you can see she was a beautiful little girl that would light up a room with her spirit. She was an angel in our life that always made us laugh and smile. She was a typical happy three year old who loved Dora the Explorer and The Doodlebops. Everyday she would watch them and sing and along. Her favorite thing in t e world was to play with her brother and sisters.

Today is her birthday and she would have been four. I can only imagine what a day it would have been. You see, she's not here to celebrate it with us. On January 15, 2006 we lost our precious angel to a drowning accident. It happened so fast and now all we are left with are the beautiful memories and the "could've, should've, would've."

Drowning has become an epidemic across the nation for children ages 1-4, an epidemic that can be prevented.

As parents and adults we must stop this epidemic, before it claims more lives. We must follow these simple steps:

• Always assign an adult "water watcher"

• Never leave a child unattended for any reason

• Install a child proof fence around your pool

• Install a pool alarm

• Make sure you have a shut off valve for your drains

• Enroll your children in swimming lessons early

These may seem like simple common sense things and they are, but we get too busy in our lives and forget the simple things and that is when tragedy strikes. Believe me I wish I would have installed an alarm and pool fence. Alyssa was not supposed to be by the pool that day. In fact she was scared of the water. We taught all of our children to swim at the age of three and thought this would NEVER happen to us. Alyssa was supposed to to learn to swim this year, but this will never happen, it is too late for us. Words cannot describe the pain and emptiness from losing Alyssa and how deeply the entire family has been affected by her death. I can only hope that our story will help to save another child.

As of today, our family will celebrate Alyssa and her life. At the cemetery where she is buried, a place no family should ever have to go for their child's birthday!.
 

In Loving Memory,
The Parker Family