As you may or may not know, my family was not contacted on the day of my daughter Sara Dubinin’s accident on Sept. 24, 2007.
We did receive a phone call from an unknown friend of Sara’s later that afternoon, asking about Sara’s condition; we did not know what she was referring to. We drove to the hospital in a panic, even calling the police and hospital, thinking that this was a prank, that it could not be true, praying that it was not true. They confirmed that there was an accident and that there was no identification.
When we arrived, Sara was already in the surgical intensive care unit (SICU). As a mother, my anguish is overwhelming, and the thought that I was not there for my daughter when she needed me the most is more than I can bear. If only I had been there, Sara would have known that she was not alone, and maybe things would be different. I will never know, but the thought never leaves my mind as I relive that day over and over again. I should have been there for Sara, if only to comfort her, hold her hand, whisper her name. The thought of her being alone in the ambulance, in the emergency room, without someone who loves her and who she loves, brings more pain to our overwhelming grief. I wasn’t there for what might have been those last precious moments with Sara.
Sara had lapsed into a coma, and my beautiful 19-year-old only child never recovered.
I went to Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-19), and he and Nick Fixmer, his former chief of staff, created bill A2592, Sara’s Law.
The bill addresses the need to establish a database for family notification in an emergency such as this. It was approved by the Assembly Transportation Committee in May and then by the full Assembly. Sayreville Mayor Kennedy O’Brien and the Borough Council also supported the bill. Sen. Joseph Vitale (D- 19) also is an advocate of the bill.
It is now in the hands of the Senate Transportation Committee, which is voting on Monday, Sept. 13, at 10 a.m. If it is approved, it will go to the full Senate and then to the governor.
I am hoping that you will send your support of this bill to the five senators on the committee. They are listed on the New Jersey Legislature website. On the left side of the screen, click on Committees, and on the right, Transportation. You can then contact them by sending an email.
There is nothing I can do to change the events of that day, but this bill is important in preventing other parents this pain.
Thank you for your support. Sara touched so many hearts and lives and continues to do so.
Betty Dubinin on behalf of the Dubinin Family Sayreville