Many days the news if filled with information which is cycled over and over until we all feel we could recite it in our sleep.

Once in a while there are a few stories which could apply to any of us which get one quick sound bite and then are gone into news history.

While we have all had accidents of one kind or another, this brought a few tears to my eyes.

Woman Accidentally Runs Over Her Family With New Van
Friday, June 01, 2007

ANNAPOLIS, Md. — A woman trying out her new van accidentally hit four members of her family, including her infant daughter.

Police said the accident happened at an Annapolis apartment complex just before 10 p.m. Thursday, when the Patel family gathered to see their new Honda Odyssey. The woman driving — 35-year-old Urvashiben Patel — accidentally hit the gas instead of the brakes and ran into her family gathered on the steps of the complex’s community center.

I am sure there are those who would criticize another for a mistake such as this, but I feel nothing but compassion for this woman who will live forever with the memory of an innocent mistake.

After readingthis story though, I must admit I felt a bit conflicted.

Two toddlers wandered away from their home in northwestern Pennsylvania while their baby sitter slept and accidentally drowned in a nearby pond.

The baby sitter told authorities she put the girls down for a nap Wednesday morning and that she also took a nap. When she woke up, 20-month-old Jenna Walker and 2-year-old Maggie Kovski were missing from the house, the baby sitter said.

She found their bodies floating in a small, man-made fishing pond about 100 yards (90 meters) away from the home and frantically tried to help them.

I have devoted the better part of my life attending to children and I must say that there have been many days when they were resting I would have loved to close my eyes and do the same. One can certainly espress some compassion for this baby sitter as she will close her eyes each night and see these images. It would not be my place to lay blame at her feet, she will I am sure do enough of that herself but this story serves as a reminder that all children are someones most precious commodity. When they are placed in your care, those who love them most should anticipate you’re acting responsibily.

Also I wonder how the parents and the brother of this toddler will ever recover from this accident.

Cops: Toddler Dies After Climbing Into Dishwasher, Starting Cycle
Friday, June 01, 2007

An 18-month-old boy died Wednesday of suspected heat exposure after he climbed into a dishwasher that started running, police said.

Authorities are still investigating, but said it appeared the boy’s death was accidental.

This is probably the hardest, most emotional scene that these investigators will ever work,” said Chief Deputy Jeremy Clark of the White County sheriff’s office.

Blake Kurck was found dead in his home near the White County town of Romance at about 1 p.m. Wednesday, the sheriff’s office said. The boy’s 13-year-old brother found him inside the appliance, which was running, authorities said.

“The baby’s blanket was lying in front of the dishwasher, so (the brother) opened it,” Clark said.

Sorry for the downer stories but when I read and see Rosie, Anna Nicole and Britney Spears in the news pages day in and day out, I think it is time to get back to reality and the heartaches and challenges us “regular people” face each day.