Iowa child left in hot minivan dies in tragic accident

[Dear readers:  this piece is part of a series of three fictional articles about human loss and suffering.  The first two present actual religious rationales for dealing with suffering that I have heard from religious friends.  The final one stresses reliance on human aid and makes no attempt to explain away the loss and brutality that we sometimes face in life.]

A family in Iowa is grieving the loss of their son, Zachary Sandvig, 2.  Zachary died of hyperthermia after being left in the family minivan while his mother was at work.  His mother apparently forgot to drop him off at daycare and discovered him as she got in her car after work.

Polk County Child Services, the Johnston Police Department and the family’s Unitarian fellowship are working together to help the family through this unbearable loss.  Forty-nine children in the United States died of heatstroke after they were left in hot cars in 2010.  Memorial contributions can be made to Safe Kids USA, an organization that works to reduce accidental deaths of children.

Zachary’s mother, Emily Sandvig, a 5th grade teacher in Johnston, Iowa, is recovering at home with her family and friends.  “We have to help Zach’s sister, Emma, now”, she said.