10/20/2021
🙏🙏🙏
Written by Henry Zook, an ex-Amish man from Lancaster County, PA
AMISH FAMILY TRAGEDY: This one hits close to home for me.
This past Sunday John & Barbara Esh of Farmville, VA were at a nearby park area celebrating the their son’s 16th birthday. On the way home with their 8 children in an open spring wagon, they were hit from behind by Toyota Tundra.
Barbara passed away instantly, John never responded and was taken off of life support the next day when his family members arrived from Lancaster PA. The children all have injuries, none of them life threatening.
We went to church with John & Barbara for a few years after they married in 2004. Since the Amish file into church by age, Barbara always sat next to Lydia.
John was no stranger to losing parents, first his father at age 14 and then his mother 10 years ago. His mother had remarried a single man named Jake, a kind and gentle man who then married my older sister a few years later after John’s mother passed away. John honored my sister as his stepmother.
Lydia and I made the 5 hour trip down to Farmville yesterday. Here are some of the memories and emotions of yesterday that keep recirculating….
The comforting sense of community on seeing many familiar faces from Lancaster at John & Barbie’s house. Gratitude at how many had made the journey.
Grappling with the magnitude of what just happened. The finality of death and the fragility of life.
The sense of general bewilderment in the air. An Amish viewing with no focal point. No coffin, no grieving immediate family to be with, and not even an extended family. Just people milling about rather aimlessly, waiting. The children at the hospital and the family there as well with the social workers getting a plan in place to care for the children.
Conversation. Stories. Lots of questions. Few answers. Some details. Lots of grieving.
They were singing songs on the way home when they were struck. What songs? No one is sure. Supposedly they had recently learned a new one about heaven.
Horror at the recounting of an eyewitness account of driving along behind a pickup truck that hit them.
The oh-no feeling on learning that the 16 yr old son had been driving the horse and carriage.
The irony of the horse having less injuries than any of the passengers. And the spring wagon somehow being in decent shape except for the seats
Relief that the children finally are all at the same hospital and have no life threatening injuries. Concern that most of them are not ready to be released. Some of them will likely not be out in time for their parent’s funeral Thursday.
Admiring Barbie’s exceptional gardens and flowerbeds around the house. Wondering what will happen to them and the property.
The story of an Amish first responder that had been at the Nickle Mines school shooting and was on the scene this time. How he helped identify the family, and drawing from the Nickle Mine experience, tried to keep track of who was being taken where.
Feeling numb at the description of the 2 oldest children being conscious throughout the whole ordeal, while having broken bones. Being aware that Mom had passed and not knowing who else.
About a hundred people waiting for hours as the word circulated that Barbie’s body was expected to be brought to the house around 7 or 8.
The undertaker’s car driving in when it was night. Barbie’s elderly father greeting him and saying, “That’s my daughter.” Raw grief as she was carried in and people gathered around and saw her battered face. “And now this mother’s earthly work is done” someone whispered.
The undertaker gently responding to questions about John’s body. “I will do my very best to bring him as soon as I can.”
Feeling impatient with general confusion and the lack of knowing where my sister was and what her plans were. Realization that this was nothing compared to the confusion she must have faced Sunday night and Monday, not knowing who was where and who of her stepchildren and step-grandchildren was going to pull through.
Gratitude at finally learning that she was at the hospital for the night with the 12 yr old girl. Relief at finally hearing her voice on the phone.
More stories. More details.
Heart rending descriptions of how the 8 children are coping. The 9 month old startling every time a door opens and then looking away in disappointment. The 14 year old processing by asking lots of questions. A lot of them about heaven. Some questions with answers known only to God. Discussion of how Dad and Mom are now with Grandma and Grandpa.
Brush burns everywhere, especially on faces. A broken leg. A crushed heel. A spleen injury. Too many injuries to remember, all 8 of the children injured.
The 14 yr old asking to be with her father as they removed life support.
John & Barbie’s siblings setting up a short term plan to take turns living with the children, a week at a time. Most have large families of their own and live 5 or more hours away.
Much relief and gratitude that the hospital is doing everything in their power to accommodate this huge Amish family, and that they feel well taken care of. Giving professional advice in how to care for the children’s emotional and mental well being. Big city organizations and Amish in rural areas don’t always work together well.
Please pray for the children.
*Please keep in mind these are the ramblings of a sleep deprived mind, details may or may not be 100% correct. Link to news article and GoFundMe in comments. Please, no discussion at this time of whether or not buggies should be on public roads, or how people should drive. More on that at another time.
