Mick my Friend,

               I can truly empathize with what you must be going through at this moment. Having met both, you and your wonderful daughter, Ciara, personally 3 years ago at Jean Ritchie's singing party only makes the tragedy that more meaningful.

It was exactly 38 years ago that I went through a similar experience.
I was leading a tour of summer camp children to the Amish Country when our chartered coach skidded in a rainstorm, crashed through the guardrail, and went down a 50 foot embankment near Allentown, Pennsylvania. Seven innocent children lost their lives that day and another 40 were seriously injured. I was thrown through the windshield and spent 2 weeks in the hospital with a fractured pelvis and other assorted injuries.

The physical injuries have long since healed but the mental scars remain to this very day. I still get terrible nightmares and after all these years still see a phsychologist for counseling once a week.

My advice to you is to get the best possible therapist for Ciara. It should be an experienced Psychlogist with a proven track record in dealing with post traumatic syndrome. Your standard school or hospital therapist will not be up to this job. I speak from first hand experience.

SOL