Your beautiful, it's true
I like to imagine who the lucky guy is you would have married and how happy you would have made him. What a great wife and mother you would have been. I imagine that someday, somewhere, that guy is going to see your face in a crowded place. You will appear to him as an angel with a smile on your face. He will realize that you are an angel and he will have to face the truth, that he will never be with you. It will be a moment that only you and he will share and it will last till the end of time.....

An ATV is not childs play...Please click on this to watch video

On September 13, 2003, decedent was visiting the home of a friend who lived in a gated community in W. Delray Beach. Early that evening, while it was still daylight, decedent and her friend went to “hang out” in the neighborhood with some other children. They were at the driveway of a neighbor’s house when thirteen year old Defendant Nicolas brought his family’s one hundred and twenty-five cc All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) to the neighbor’s house where the girls had gone. At that time, Nicolas allowed decedent to get on the ATV as the driver, with another friend behind her as a passenger, and allowed decedent to drive the ATV. Both decedent and her passenger were wearing helmets. Decedent drove down the paved road a short way until she came upon a slight turn in the road. At that point, decedent lost control and continued straight ahead, off the road, and into a tree. Both decedent and her passenger were thrown from the ATV. Decedent suffered severe head injuries and died within a few hours. Ronald Warfield testified at trial about the industry standards and ATV safety in general. Ronald Warfield stated that there are warning placards in many places on ATVs pursuant to those industry standards as follows: (1) no one under the age of sixteen should ever ride this 125 cc ATV; (2) no one under the age of sixteen should ever ride any ATV without adult supervision; (3) never ride this 125 cc ATV with a passenger; and (4) never ride on pavement. Ronald Warfield further stated that the reason these warnings are on these vehicles is that a thirteen year old does not have the cognitive ability to understand the dangers associated with driving this vehicle, and that without proper training and supervision, and if the industry safety standards are not followed, this vehicle is dangerous and can kill. Nicolas’ father, Defendant Roger, testified that those warnings on the ATV did not mean anything to him, and that they were there simply to protect the manufacturers from lawsuits. All of the Finas testified about how Nicolas was trained and how the family had gone through the owner’s manual together. The owner’s manual is filled with much more detailed safety information than what is contained on the warning placards. The Finas also testified about how Nicolas was basically able to come and go as he pleased with the family ATV. The testimony at trial established that the Fina family, the people with the ownership and most knowledge and training about this ATV, ignored most of the standards and warnings, and that Defendants Karen and Roger Fina were negligent for allowing their thirteen year old son to use the vehicle as he did. 

 As we sat through your weeklong trial last month I felt you with us Sara. And I know God was also with us. God let us know He was there when the man who was found mostly responsible for your death arrogantly told the court that the reason for your death was because “God wanted it that way”. It was amazing how immediately after he said that God showed him how wrong he was…through dad. And God continued to punish him by exposing him for many other bad things he has done in his life and been sued for. Now the truth is out and so many people now know what we knew all along. It's so sad how he and his wife blamed everyone but themselves (including God) for your accident and had absolutely no remorse. I thank God and I thank you Sara for being there with us as we sat in court having to face those ignorant people.

And now, because of the outcome of your case, you will be saving other families from going through what we are going through. Your name will live on forever and you will be saving so many children. And these parents who were found 80% responsible for your death will have to live with themselves knowing what they have done. They will have to face the truth; that because of their negligence in allowing their 13 year old son to use their adult sized atv like a toy, that because they ignored all the warnings and safety rules that they didn't think were important, you lost your precious life. Sara, we will continue to fight for you and do all we can to make you proud. We will continue to bring awareness of atv safety to parents and children. The overwhelming support we receive from our family and friends is what gets us through everyday and gives us strength to continue on...

Concerned Families for ATV Safety

            Don't forget to remember me       

                     ~Sara through the years~

              Sister's forever and always

                   September 13th, 2003
                          (I lost my love, my life that night)

Here is the story of that fateful day
Home alone with the girls while Duane was away
Amy asked me to call him because she missed him so much
It was unusual for him to go away without us

Sara was at her friends for a sleepover that night
Amy and Laura had plans to my great delight
I thought how nice it will be to spend some quiet time alone
Before it was time for Amy and Laura to come back home

Just then my friend Rochelle came to pick Laura up
The phone started ringing as Amy asked me to hurry up
She was patiently waiting for me to take her to the mall
Should I let the phone ring or should I take the call?

Rochelle waited in the driveway for Laura to come out
I said “wait for me Laura, let me see what this call is about”
I answered the phone and it was the mom of Sara’s friend
And at that moment my life as I knew it came to an end

OH MY GOD, PLEASE TELL ME THAT SARA'S OKAY
“I don’t really know, just get to the hospital right away”
I ran outside screaming “Rochelle I have to go”
She asked if she could drive me but I said no

I took Amy and Laura with me for that dreadful ride
Not knowing how Sara was we just prayed and cried
The girls tried to calm me saying she probably just broke her leg
OH GOD PLEASE LET THAT BE ALL IT IS, PLEASE, I BEG

When we arrived at the hospital everything was such a blur
All I remember saying is I need to see her
Why can’t I see her, what’s taking so long?
You just have to wait, please try to be strong

"The doctors are working on her and can't talk to you just yet"
The torture of not knowing is a feeling I will never forget
It seemed like forever before the nurse finally came out
"The doctor needs to talk to you" and then I began to shout

OH GOD PLEASE TELL ME THAT THIS IS A DREAM
When I heard the doctors words I bent over and screamed
Just then my whole body went totally numb
Shock set in and I just needed Duane to come

I went in to see her, my worst nightmare came true
My sweet child laying there helpless, there was nothing I could do
What a gut wrenching pain that words could never explain
Unbearable, excruciating, the worst kind of pain

The nurse said “Sara can still hear you so say your goodbyes”
NO, I will NEVER say goodbye as I wiped tears from my eyes
But I knew I had no choice, God wanted to take her Home
I just didn’t want her to be scared, confused or feel alone

So I said Sara, “I love you and so many people do”
I am so, so sorry this is happening to you
I told her “you’re always in my arms and it’s okay”
I felt so helpless, empty and I died with her that day

At four o’clock that morning Duane walked through the door
He hugged me and said he’s sorry he couldn’t do more
Being stuck on a plane while hearing that kind of news
Was the worst kind of pain and left him forever bruised

His family has always been the number one priority in his life
All his hard work and good fortune were for his children and wife
How hard it must have been for him not to be there that night
But I know Sara was helping him get through that long flight

I know Sara continues to be with us each step of this journey we're on
A journey so hard to imagine unless your child is gone
How we'll get through our life without Sara, I have no clue
But with the help of God, family and friends we'll make it through

Sara we all love you and miss you so much
We miss your beautiful face, your voice and your touch
And even though we can’t hear you, touch you or see your sweet face 
You will always be a big part of our lives while you wait for us, in a much better place... 

* Sara's Sweet Sixteen Video*(Thank you Ally)

Happy Sweet Sixteen Sara
               (written in March, 2006 by: Mom)

Sara, your turning sweet 16 today
We miss you so much in every single way
We miss everything about you from your head to your toes 
We miss your love, your laughter and your cute ski jump nose 

You couldn't wait for your 16th birthday to arrive
You looked forward so much to the day you could drive
A convertible mustang was what you hoped you would get
Either that or a dark red convertible corvette

I remember telling you that convertibles weren't safe
That I would rather you drive something with a roof in place
Little did I know you wouldn't be driving at all
Never in my wildest dreams would I have made that call

As I sit here and type this with tears in my eyes
I remember the night I had to say my goodbyes
The nurse told me that is what I needed to do 
I thought "how can she expect me to say goodbye to you?"

Goodbye was too final, such a gut wrenching thought
The words wouldn't come out and in my throat they got caught
Instead I told you how much I love you and that it's okay
I didn't want you to be scared or think I was mad at you in any way

I knew then and I know now that it wasn't your fault
That your precious life came to such an unfair halt
You should have never been put in the position to decide
To get on that adult ATV and take it for a ride 

I said this from the start and I know this to be true
The adults are at fault who should have been there supervising you
They would have known to tell you not to get on the machine
That is a judgement for an adult and not a child of thirteen!

Saving other children's lives is what I can do now
By telling your story and making a vow
To let parents know the danger of adult size ATV's
And to supervise their children instead of just handing over the keys

From the day you were born your safety always came first 
I was right there beside you anytime you were hurt
I would cuddle with you until your pain went away
You knew you could count on me to make you okay

But I wasn't there that night to see what was going on 
I couldn't help you or cuddle you before you were gone
This is a heart wrenching pain I live with every day
And it doesn't get easier, like some people say

I know you would want me to find some joy in my life
Beleive me I try but it still cuts like a knife
But today on your birthday I will try my best 
To remember the 13 1/2 years for which I've been blessed 

I will think of the special moment you were born
How I felt so fulfilled and how my heart felt so warm
I took one look at your face and fell in love right away 
I knew what a precious gift God sent me on this March day 

I will remember each precious moment I spent with you since then
All the joy and the laughter and I'll smile once again
As I recall the many moments we shared, just us two
And the special name we called them, I'm sure you remember that too

The love we have for each other will always remain
Nothing can ever destroy that, it will always be the same
It is our love for each other that will forever keep us bound 
And that is the reason I know you're still around

I hope you are having the best celebration in Heaven
Oh, if only you were here the party we would have given!
But I am sure it is one that could never compare
To the celebration you are having right now, up there

Happy Sweet 16 Sara, we hope you have fun
Your family is so proud of all you have done
While you wait for us in Heaven we want you to know,
Our love for you blossoms and continues to grow..... 

                             The life of Sara                          
                      March 15, 1990 - September 13, 2003

On March 15, 1990, Duane and Cathy Hennarichs were blessed with a precious daughter, Sara. How happy we were that her older sister Amy, then 22 months, would have a sister so close in age. Four years later,Sara became our middle child when her little sister Laura was born.
Sara seemed to smile from the moment she was born. Her whole face lit up when she smiled. Sara smiled as she sat and watched TV, she smiled when she ate, she even smiled when she cried, she just always had a smile on her face. Through the years she grew to be such an affectionate, loving, caring girl who always wanted everyone to be happy. She hated to see anyone sad and would do anything in her power to make them smile. I’ll never forget being at her second grade class holiday party. At the end of the party all the children received a goody bag full of all sorts of goodies. For some reason they were short one goody bag and one girl in the class didn’t get one. The girl started to cry and the teacher frantically tried to put something together for her. I watched as Sara got up from her desk and walked over to this little girl and without hesitation gave the girl her goody bag. No one else noticed this except me, and I remember thinking what an amazing little girl I have. This unbelievable act of generosity from a second grader was so pure and unselfish. All she wanted was for this girl to stop crying and to make her smile. She didn’t care that her act of kindness went unnoticed.

And this is how she lived her whole life. Smiling, laughing, and showing kindness and love to all. She would find the good in everyone. She would defend kids who could not defend themselves. Her ability to make people laugh was so natural for her. You could never have a bad day with Sara around because she would make you laugh and forget all your troubles. Sara loved her family and friends with every ounce of her being. Anyone that knew Sara can honestly say that Sara was definitely “one of a kind”….. 

                               


        
My heartfelt thanks to all those who visit Sara's site. I thank you for your kind words, prayers and support. It means the world to me. Thank you for all the candles and the beautiful tributes. Each one brings a smile to my face. Please light a candle and/or add a tribute when you visit Sara's site so I know you visited or just to say hi and let Sara know you are thinking of her!  I love you all