“I’m so sorry everyone forgive me please for what I’m gonna do…. This Is It!!!!” Lashanda Armstrong’s message on Facebook shortly before the fatal accident.
As I write this I can assure you my heart is heavy and I am broken. Every now and then tragic takes us by surprise and leaves us with sadness. Past Thursday I learned of the shocking death of Lashanda Armstrong from Newburgh New York and her 3 children.
Apparently Lashanda Armstrong, a single-mother of 4 kids decided she have had enough of life and its misery. She hauled her kids into a minivan, drove a little outside their home and drove off a dock into a river killing herself and 3 of her children. The fourth child La’Shaun Armstrong managed to escape the fast-sinking van. The 10 years old La’Shaun is the only witness to the horrifying event. He told authorities as he tried to make his way out of the sinking van his mother grabbed his legs and said “I made a mistake” before letting him go.
I know the challenges that single-parent of multiple children are facing are not fair. It is tough and can drain the parent till the person becomes disheartened and even suicidal. Some parents become addicts to all kinds of stuff and others simply neglect their duty. Lashanda was to my relief none of these. She was not an addict. She took care of her children, worked and went to school. According to neighbors and relatives she did everything for her children.
On the fatal day Lashanda had a dispute with her cheating baby-daddy and she snapped. She became disillusioned and suicidal and no soul was there to remind her of the positive things she got to live for. No soul was there to tell her to take one good look at her beautiful children and wonder what they can become and the opportunities she’s taking from them if anything happens to them. Everyone says she was distressed but yet not a soul saw it coming. Not the cheating father who drove this hardworking mother crazy or the relatives and friends who picked up strange attitude prior to the accident saw this tragic coming. So no one could tell her: Lashanda, I understand what you are going through and you have every right to be mad, but girl you need to take a step back. Don’t give up hope and don’t ever give up on your children, not this way. Leave them out of this, they do not deserve your pain. Not a single soul, she was alone.
I can’t help but keep thinking about the hopeless children and how terrified they must have been as the van plunged into the river and sink with those children inside. I don’t know how I would feel about my mother’s good intensions and all of her hard work if I hear her say: “If I’m going to die, you’re going to die with me”. A child can only make out what’s right and wrong and not the reasoning. I sincerely hope that distressed mothers reading this will seek help and choose life for their children and not death. And if you ever have any doubt about your worth I hope the following words give you some kind of comfort:
“Because a rose is still a rose
Baby, girl, you’re still a flower
He can’t lead you and then take you
Make you and then break you
Darlin’, you hold the power” Aretha Franklin’s song a rose is still a rose
Baby, girl, you’re still a flower
He can’t lead you and then take you
Make you and then break you
Darlin’, you hold the power” Aretha Franklin’s song a rose is still a rose
The Soul Rebel Movement would like to extend our heartfelt condolences to relatives and friends. RIP to 5-year-old Landen Pierre, 2-year-old Lance Pierre, 11-month-old Lainaina Pierre and their 25-year-old mother Lashanda Armstrong. To La’Shaun I hope you find peace and the strength to give this tragic a place. Shine boy, shine eternally.