The death of a loved one is such a painful and heartbreaking experience to go through.
In whatever form it occurs. It still hurts as much. It robs you of your joy and forever leaves an emptiness in you. Along with it comes feelings of anxiety, helplessness, and sadness. Loss of a child is very unbearable, no parent deserves to lose their child.
Rick Ellis, a professional Bass fisherman from Arkansas, lost his beloved daughter when she was just 6 years old. Her name was Lindsey. She lost her dear life in a fatal car accident that involved a drunken driver who liked to stay up late, drink whiskey, and have fun.
Rick was very devastated, losing his baby girl was the worst thing that ever happened to him. In 2004, a shattered Rick visited his daughter’s grave. Feelings of anguish engulfed him immediately. Tears rolled down his cheeks uncontrollably as he stood next to his little angel’s grave.
With a heavy heart, he went ahead and recorded an emotionally charged plea directed towards all the people who carelessly drive when under the influence of alcohol.
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“I’m going to show you something that is the end result of your partying on Friday nights, Saturday nights, whenever,” he says. “Want to get drunk, play around, get stupid? This is what happens…”
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Rick then immediately turns his camera to the headstone. Written on the headstone are two names: Christy M. Johnson Ellis and Lindsey Kay Ellis.
That’s when the shocking truth of who killed his beloved daughter is revealed. Guess who?
It was none other than her own mother, Rick’s ex-wife.
The drunk driver who was behind the wheel when Lindsey died was Rick’s ex-partner and mother to Lindsey-Christy. Unfortunately, Christy also passed away in the crash. Rick’s ex-wife Christy had been unemployed for about three months when she started drinking more heavily.
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He was so protective of his little girl, he never thought he would ever have to worry about his daughter being harm’s way.
One fateful day, Christy, his ex-wife decided to travel with their daughter and her new boyfriend to Gulfshores, Alabama. She and her boyfriend were arguing, while they had been drinking. Out of anger, she decided to take-off with her daughter, leaving her boyfriend behind… Sadly, while driving, she hit a guardrail and the car flipped over, just like that, both Rick’s daughter and ex-wife died instantly.
This was the worst day of Rick’s life, it was a nightmare. His world suddenly crumbled and was turned upside-down. He was devastated and angry. He had lost two important people in his life. His baby girl was gone for good. He could not fathom the thought of never laying eyes on his little princess or even carrying her in his arms ever again.
He began to question God.
When Rick went to the grave site, he asked God, “What should I do?” And he believes that God told him, “Tell the world how you feel.”
Upon hearing the Lord’s answer, Rick immediately reached for his cell phone and filmed a video that has now gone viral.
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Since posting his video online, Rick has received over eight million messages from people all around the world, he has been interviewed by news crews and featured on various TV shows. He now does motivational speaking at Churches, schools, and other places. Rick believes that God truly helped him and now wants to help other people.
This story proves just how important it is for people struggling with addiction to get the help they need.
“If you’re struggling with addiction… if you’re struggling with alcohol… I hope this can help you,” Rick says to the camera. “Don’t let your loved ones look down at you six-feet in the ground ’cause you couldn’t handle life. Pull your bootlegs up, grab a hold of life, make something of it. Make Mom and Daddy proud.”
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It’s so amazing how a father that lost his baby girl, has risen above the pain of losing a child and has decided to use his experience to spread the word about addiction, drugs, alcohol, and driving when you are not mentally stable.