It’s been an especially difficult few weeks, John.
For the first time in eight years, we marked Dec. 14 – the day my sweet little Daniel was murdered – at home, in the same house where I shared my last morning with him, where we had to tell our other two children, James and Natalie, that their little brother had been killed. It was also the first Thanksgiving and Christmas we spent at our house without Daniel.
We’re all having a really rough time – Daniel’s absence is just that much more evident at home. We’re reliving the nightmare of his murder all over again.
I don't want any other family to feel this unrelenting pain – so even though it’s extremely hard right now, I’m pushing through and focusing on this work to protect other children like Daniel.
But with just 11 hours left to reach our critical year-end match goal, we're still short. So please, will you donate now, before midnight, to have your gift matched to protect more children from gun violence?
It seems like just yesterday and also a thousand years ago that Jackie and I were walking through the Christmas tree farm with our three beautiful children – Daniel, Natalie and James. Just five days later, Daniel was gone forever.
Daniel’s funeral was only a few days before Christmas, so what used to be a time of joy and family traditions is now filled with the haunting memory of my 7-year-old son’s little casket. I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that he’s never coming back.
That’s why I’m asking for some extra help so that we can protect more children like Daniel from gun violence – and protect more families from this constant agony. I appreciate anything you can give today to help save more lives.
Mark Barden (Daniel's father)
