"Please do not blame yourself .
.
. It could of happened to any one of us .
.
. My sister died very young in the same way." — Anonymous note left on pressdemocrat.com guest book for family of 14-year-old Takeimi Rao. It was signed, "A mother."It's fair to say that Santa Rosa has been shaken to its core by the death of Takeimi Rao, the young girl who never awoke from her sleepover with three friends last weekend.The initial response has been shock and grief — and disbelief.How can something as innocent as a sleepover with four friends end so tragically?The details are well known by now. At some point during the evening a bottle of vodka was brought into the gathering. A container of soda and alcohol was passed around. During the night, all four of the girls became sick and threw up.Like it or not, it's a scene that's familiar to a many. Sure, it was unwise, but how many adults remember experimenting in such ways — in the company of friends?Many got sick from the experience. But few paid the ultimate price.Officials say they're awaiting a toxicology report to determine the amount that Takeimi consumed. But it's possible that she choked on her own vomit.Regardless, the result is that a promising young student is gone, and a community is left to grieve.Kudos to Rincon Valley Middle School Principal Matt Marshall, staff members and parents who have reacted swiftly and compassionately in letting parents know of the death and setting up an informal gathering on campus last night, complete with counselors and therapy dogs.This marks the second time that the Rincon Valley class that just completed eighth-grade has lost a student. In November, Chris Pierpoint, a respected student and athlete, died after suffering a brain hemorrhage.The public is also invited to a memorial service for Takeimi to be held at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Eugene's Cathedral.As is on full display this week, the natural response to all of this is to show support for the grieving family and friends of Takeimi. The second is to sit down with your child and talk about what happened.Little more needs to be said about the risks of alcohol.As Marshall noted this week, "No matter how wonderful your child is, the best of kids will make mistakes."And there's often a fine line between the mistakes we walk away from — and learn from — and those we don't.
— Anonymous note left on pressdemocrat.com guest book for family of 14-year-old Takeimi Rao. It was signed, "A mother."
It's fair to say that Santa Rosa has been shaken to its core by the death of Takeimi Rao, the young girl who never awoke from her sleepover with three friends last weekend.
The initial response has been shock and grief — and disbelief.
How can something as innocent as a sleepover with four friends end so tragically?
The details are well known by now. At some point during the evening a bottle of vodka was brought into the gathering. A container of soda and alcohol was passed around. During the night, all four of the girls became sick and threw up.
Like it or not, it's a scene that's familiar to a many. Sure, it was unwise, but how many adults remember experimenting in such ways — in the company of friends?
Many got sick from the experience. But few paid the ultimate price.
Officials say they're awaiting a toxicology report to determine the amount that Takeimi consumed. But it's possible that she choked on her own vomit.
Regardless, the result is that a promising young student is gone, and a community is left to grieve.
Kudos to Rincon Valley Middle School Principal Matt Marshall, staff members and parents who have reacted swiftly and compassionately in letting parents know of the death and setting up an informal gathering on campus last night, complete with counselors and therapy dogs.
This marks the second time that the Rincon Valley class that just completed eighth-grade has lost a student. In November, Chris Pierpoint, a respected student and athlete, died after suffering a brain hemorrhage.
The public is also invited to a memorial service for Takeimi to be held at 2 p.m. Friday at St. Eugene's Cathedral.
As is on full display this week, the natural response to all of this is to show support for the grieving family and friends of Takeimi. The second is to sit down with your child and talk about what happened.
Little more needs to be said about the risks of alcohol.
As Marshall noted this week, "No matter how wonderful your child is, the best of kids will make mistakes."
And there's often a fine line between the mistakes we walk away from — and learn from — and those we don't.
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