A Working Mom's Blog

Guest post from Hamden blogger :

So, I’ve mentioned in other posts how much I love to read and how often I can be affected by what I’m reading – smiling or shedding a tear, and thinking about the story long after I’ve turned my eyes away.

I was deeply saddened and quite devastated upon hearing of the Petit tragedy in Cheshire – as a parent and as a resident of the area. I followed all of the news accounts, editorials, memorials, you name it, I read it – I guess I somehow thought it was like supporting Dr. Petit by following along to be sure his family was honored and the crime addressed.

I happen to work in New Haven just two blocks from the courthouse. Though I’ve read countless stories since the tragedy five years ago, it somehow still felt surreal – until about a month ago. A friend and I were walking at lunch break and saw Dr. Petit and his sister walking downtown – I literally stopped in my tracks. This was real; this wasn’t another mystery I had been reading like the fiction books I often read.

Here he was, the picture of courage, across the street from me. Do I approach and share my deepest condolences? Tell him how much I admire his strength? How much I admire the ways he’s honored their memory with the foundation? I noticed a few others stopping to shake his hand quietly. My friend convinced me that we should leave him be; he has enough strangers attempting to share their support.

Though I don’t truly know the families involved, I’ve read so much about them, it creates an illusion as if you know them and hope certain things for them as you say little prayers of support. Another reader happened to share my sentiment and publicly commended New Haven Register writer Randall Beach who has covered the trials step-by-step. He’s also shared his personal experience via editorials – by far, exceptional journalism. As someone who studied the subject in college, I’m certain my professors would be using Beach as an example in class, if I were there today.

When I read about the recent conclusion to the final penalty phase, I said a quiet prayer for Dr. Petit and thanked God that these families can now have peace during the holiday season and maybe just a bit of an easier start to the new year [while I realize there isn’t anything easy once you’ve faced a loss like they have endured].

If you’re like me and the numerous others who’ve read about this family, you’ve most definitely felt helpless about how to offer support. Imagine how much that feeling must be multiplied by those that personally know the Petits and their families.

After all of the sad stories, I then came across a very uplifting one – a unique one that immediately grabbed my attention because of the field I work in. Dr. Petit’s alma mater, which is also the college his daughter was about to attend, has named a gallery in their honor at the new Life Sciences Center at Dartmouth. The article also noted that the gallery includes a quilt specially made in honor of the Petits by a Dartmouth mom whose daughter would have been a classmate of Hayley Petit. Now, that kind of story undoubtedly brings tears to your eyes!

Dr. Petit’s classmates channeled their grief and compassion into raising money to creating a lasting tribute at another one of Petit’s “homes”. As a scholar at Dartmouth, Petit touched so many lives of his friends; they found a way to touch his, even from afar where they all are now, decades after studying together in college. Since I work in fundraising, I can assure you most folks immediately think of cold-calling for donations when they hear the word fundraising – but – really, fundraising can have beautiful, lasting effects – stories like these. I’m so glad the New Haven Register chose to run this story.

So, I won’t be reading too many murder-mystery novels again soon, but I’ve been touched in so many ways by reading as this story unfolded. Reading about Dr. Petit reminds me that courage is deep within each one of us, no matter the reason it bubbles to the surface. It’s deepened my sense of faith, among other things.

And, you know what, it's been such a good reminder that the power of prayer can make a difference. Dr. Petit may not know me, but when I close my eyes and say a prayer for him and his family, it gives me the feeling that I'm helping even if it's such a small way. I bet all of the prayers of those around the country together have added up to a form of comfort for the Petits and their families.