An Open Letter to Christine Leinonen

An Open Letter to Christine Leinonen

   As I sat in my living room watching your tearful pleas for help in finding your beautiful son, Christopher, I wanted to reach though the TV screen, wrap my arms around you and comfort you.  I prayed that Christopher would be found alive and my heart broke for you when I learned that was not the case.

   Christine, I write this as one grieving mother to another. My son died 21 months ago and I won't say that I completely understand and feel the same pain that you are feeling because of the different circumstances surrounding their deaths, but I do know the grief of losing an adult child.

   I don't know your and Christopher's story but I sense that you are a mother who loves her child more than anything and you would gladly have exchanged your life for Christopher's.  I wish I could have gotten in my son's hospital bed and died so that he could live.  I begged God to take me instead, but it wasn't meant to be.  Our sons were beautiful and had so much life left and so much to contribute to society.

   I saw you tell Lester Holt that if you had known that Christopher was lying on the floor in that club you would have gone in and carried him out on your back.  Christine, I would have gone in there with you and helped you carry him out.

   As you begin your journey as a "sister in lost" I hope you can find comfort.  Please do not let bitterness overtake you.  Try to find a way to do good works in Christopher's name, so that it will never be forgotten. 

   I hope you know that this is written out of love and compassion and I pray for strength, comfort, and healing for you.

With deepest love and compassion.

Shelley Ledbetter