What's Up In Altadena
This popular blog site is operated by publisher Leslie Aitken who graciously shared our Pasadena Weekly article and other network and print stories with the greater Pasadena/Altadena community. These are reader comments — names have been withheld for reasons of privacy.
🔹So many times we read things like this, but it feels far from home; like it happened to someone else, somewhere else. This isn’t that for me. I didn’t know her name until today. I didn’t know at the time that I had actually once met her and talked with her. I didn’t know at the time that I had spoken with her mom about her name being Roxie and how incredibly cute it was. I did know she (a nameless child for me until today) had died, because my son Sawyer was at this same camp this summer. I did feel the devastation of a community. I did feel the fear and uncertainty of continuing to send him to camp each day. I have been so saddened for the family this whole time, but to now find out her name, who she was, that I had actually met her, I find myself reliving the devastation I felt at the time all over again. She was a bright light. You could tell in just the few small moments I spent with her. She smiled all the way to her eyes and beyond. My dear friend was once her teacher and once spoke to me about how amazing she was and how glad it made her I had gotten to meet her. I’m glad I got to meet her, too. She touched my life in less than a minute. Sometimes, that’s all it takes for some kids.
All my love to her parents. May the joy and memories of your precious Roxie somehow bring you peace. God bless you both.
🔹Heartbroken and crying as I read this. My granddaughter is the same age as your beautiful Roxie. I’m sorry for the loss of your beloved daughter and pray that the Lord would comfort you, your wife, and family.
🔹My heart is breaking and aching for this family. Sending heartfelt sympathy. I can’t begin to fathom the anguish. I am so so sorry for their loss.
🔹I am so very sorry for your loss. Words just can’t express the tears, regret and anger I felt in reading your story.
🔹so sorry for your loss and pain.
🔹Roxie Mirabelle Forbes, a sweet angel.
🔹Gasp. Heart felt sorrow.
🔹My heart aches for you. So many of our hearts ache for you ❤️❤️❤
🔹Thank you for sharing your ❤️. Sending love love love love and healing
🔹Sending love and condolences your way. I’m so very sorry this happened to your family.
🔹I hold you in my heart and cry for you. She is beautiful
🔹My heart aches for you! My condolences and sending prayers!
🔹Thank you for sharing your story. Sounds like Roxie was an AMAZING little girl and left a POSITIVE, loving impression on this world. Sending lots of love, light, and strength your way. But I'm sure Roxie has that taken care of! 😉❤
🔹I’m reading this with tears in my eyes. I know there’s nothing in this world that can mitigate the pain you are feeling now.... but know that a lot of people are holding you in their hearts and thoughts. ❤️
🔹I have experienced these emotions and grief when I lost wife when I was only 28 and my son was only 3 years old.
All I can say is time never completely heals the tremendous loss you and your wife are now experiencing but with the help of God, time will eventually give you the strength to move on with your lives.
🔹This is so heartbreaking! Strength to family 🙏
🔹I have a six year old non-swimmer daughter who was in the pool with Roxie when this happened. The grief I feel for your family is so entangled with my own terror and horror (and, honestly...relief) that it is very hard for me to read this. I have read it six times. I will keep reading it. I will share it. I will not forget her life, your heartbreak, or how close we were to being in your place. How fragile all of us are and how quickly it all can change. I am awed by your strength and your love for your daughter and wish you all the love, support and healing this world can offer. (Kari Wilton)
🔹Our family have been keeping your family in our thoughts and prayers since we heard the devastating news this summer. Our hearts ache for you and your wife Doug. Thank you for being so brave and sharing your story. We are happy to help with your foundation in anyway you need. (Lisa Fox)
🔹My daughter was in Maestra Luz’s kinder class last year and knew Roxie. My heart aches for your family. Please know that the SRE community is here to support you in anyway possible. Your pain in unimaginable but I hope find the strength to live life again in her memory.(Heidi Ramos-Garabaldo)
🔹My heart is saddened. I send my prayers for God's comfort and peace to you both you did nothing wrong as parents....wanting the best experiences for your child. I believe God will restore joy to you in due time. Stay strong. Continue to hold on to each other. God has not forsaken you.
🔹What a horrific and tragic accident. Al involved will forever be haunted by “what if”. My heart goes out to everyone affected.
🔹I don’t know you but Roxie was a ray of light. My daughter was a camper at Summerkids and the first day on the way home she said “I made a new friend named Roxie”. My daughter can be very shy....Roxie made her feel welcome. You have been on my mind non stop. we prayed and prayed. I cannot imagine the pain you are experiencing. I vow to volunteer time to help you with your foundation. I will send my info to your email address. (Jaime Jackson)
🔹Blessings to you all, I can't imagine your pain but I just lost my 33-year-old granddaughter to cancer on June 8 we were very close and she left 4 small children, one of them Roxie's age... everyone says Time helps but I don't think I'll ever be better!
I will pray for your dear daughter!
🔹This is heartbreaking. Unimaginable. I wish so much love to Roxie’s parents and family. Thank you for being so brave to share your story.
🔹My heart is aching for all three of you. Thank you for sharing Roxie with us through your beautiful, painful words. I am so so sorry, this should never ever happen to any child or any family. I’ve never met you but I will never forget you or your sweet girl.
🔹My entire heart. My son attended a few years in a row there and I’m so haunted and in mourning with these parents. Sending lots of love and support to them.
🔹Sigh...
I am so saddened and sorry for your loss.
I am in tears reading this posting.
My heart aches.
Whatever support I can offer to your foundation - I will. Some legislation must be passed to require a license and substantial oversight.
Your precious baby is gone and I wish that I could bring her back. (Sandrs Parker)
🔹I am thankful you shared Roxie’s story and my heart is broken , I don’t know Roxie but can see she was truly amazing and her legacy of living to love was perfect words . You are in my prayers and Roxie’s story will hopefully help change a better tomorrow as for the family if you ever need anything please I would love to meet you ! I will pray for you .
(This was from Michelle & Mario El Guajardo - owners of Grocery Outlet).
🔹My heart is breaking and aching for this family. Sending heartfelt sympathy. I can’t begin to fathom the anguish. I am so so sorry for their loss.
🔹I hold you in my heart and cry for you. She is beautiful
🔹Thought about you all summer long. How can one even recover from such a traumatic event. Referring you to one of our most activist swim coaches out there Swim to Safety (formerly known as swim to Selena — she is based out of studio city and stopped giving private lessons to travel the country and educate the masses about swim safety...contact her immediately she would be such an asset to your foundation, I promise you). Love to the family, you are amazing parents and you wanted your girl to have fun which is what we all strive to do...xoxo (from Allegra de Souza)
🔹I am so very sorry for your loss. Words just can’t express the tears, regret and anger I felt in reading your story.
🔹so sorry for your loss and pain.
🔹Roxie Mirabelle Forbes, a sweet angel.
🔹Oh my God, my heart aches for your senseless loss. Your baby girl is beautiful and I know you will always miss and love her. She was a sweet blessing 🌹
🔹Prayers ascending for you, your wife and all
who knew and love Roxie, and all involved.
🔹Sending love and condolences your way. I’m so very sorry this happened to your family. 😢
🔹So many of us families have been mourning with you all summer.
🔹We are a SRE family and my heart aches for you. So very sorry for your loss.
🔹My prayers are with all the family and friends.
🔹What a sad tragedy 😢😢 this breaks my heart completely. I pray you get the strength you need to fight for Your beautiful Roxie this was totally negligence from the staff at the camp, how does one get distracted when caring for beautiful children that our in a pool 😢😢
🔹Such a tragedy. This story broke my heart. Thank you for writing such a beautiful piece that reminds us all to take the time to say I love you or put your arms around someone and give them a hug. I am so very sorry.
🔹This is heartbreaking, we are a San Rafael Family and we are so sorry about your immense loss!
🔹I am so very sorry
🔹Sending virtual hugs.
🔹I will hug my kids and when I do I will be thinking of you and your wife and your beautiful Roxie and the love the three of you shared for each other. Praying for comfort during such sadness and grief.
🔹Thank you for sharing your story. My heart aches for you and your wife’s loss. You’ve made me and hopefully others more cognizant of the lack of oversight at these swimming pools and it will be on my mind when my girls are old enough to start swimming. You have my sincerest condolences.
🔹Doug, so very sorry for your family’s loss. I remember reading about this tragedy the day it happened and could not believe it. I have kids not much older than Roxie that we send to camps every summer and couldn’t even imagine what you went thru that day and continue to deal with. Thank you for sharing your story.
🔹I’m so sorry and grieved. It hurts my heart too. God bless you.
🔹I’m so very sorry for your loss. Our daughter Lexi volunteered in your daughters class and we are heartbroken. I cry every time I read your story. My heart goes out to you and your family. Lots of love.
🔹Oh my God the pain I feel reading this heartfelt post. I am breathless as I reply...Tears are flowing for this family. This is not the way life should be. Who buries their Children? This is not the way it should be. Children bury us. I don't know what to to say to Doug and his family, there are no words to console or caress their pain. I'm lost for words. I can truly say I'm sorry for the loss of your baby girl and until the camp can implement safe procedures should never open their doors.💝
🔹As a San Rafael parent my heart is with you both.
🔹Words cannot express how sorry and sad I am for your loss. I am deeply shaken to the core by this.
🔹Heart aches for this family. Sending big ((((HUGS)))).
🔹So so so sorry for your loss. What a precious girl she was.
🔹Nothing we say can make the pain go away, hopefully you will rejoice in the wonderful memories she left behind. She sounds like an amazing little girl with amazing parents❣️
🔹Heart aching to read your beautifully written tribute to your sweet daughter. ❣️
🔹I have no kids, but with these heartbreaking words I know this loss is unbearable. Through my tears I tried to find the words that might give some solace. There are none.
🔹Heartbreaking and beautifully written. Condolences to the family.
🔹Such a tragedy. Praying for this family.
🔹Your foundation will be a lovely tribute to your beautiful baby girl. And it will help so many families.
🔹Thank you for sharing your story. My heart goes out to you all.
🔹Heartbreaking to read. Sending love to the family. I hope that they are successful in their efforts to establish a foundation and enact legislation that meaningfully keeps kids safer, and that it brings them some measure of peace.
🔹I’m so very sorry for your loss. Our daughter Lexi volunteered in your daughters class and we are heartbroken. I cry every time I read your story. My heart goes out to you and your family. Lots of love.
🔹I’m so very sorry for your loss. Our daughter Lexi volunteered in your daughters class and we are heartbroken. I cry every time I read your story. My heart goes out to you and your family. Lots of love.
🔹Words cannot express my sympathy & empathy towards you. She was so beautiful & it’s not fair this happened. I am so so sorry.
🔹Such a beautiful little girl. There are no words that can takeaway the pain of losing your loved one. I can only send love out to you and your wife. I'm so sorry 😢💔
🔹I’m so terribly sorry for your loss. May Roxie’s legacy of love and light be a source of great comfort during this most difficult journey.🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾
🔹I hope that you will be able to change it so that our kids are watched with the attention that they deserve.
🔹I am literally clutching my heart in grief as I read your story. I have been following the report. I am angry, sad, sick and consumed with sorrow for you. I am praying that the weight of unspeakable grief softens so you can find the strength you need. From the bottom of my heart I am so deeply sorry 😢♥️
🔹So heartbreaking I can’t imagine what you are all going through.
Wishing you love, healing and peace. ❤️🙏
🔹Dear Doug, our family’s heart sank when we heard this news and we have been thinking about you and your beautiful girl ever since. We will continue to hold you in our prayers and stand behind you in your efforts to protect other families from this tragedy.
🔹I'm terribly sorry for your loss. What you wrote about your daughter was beautiful, as was Roxie. I pray for some solace for you and your wife.
🔹This is heartbreaking. Living with child loss from any cause is a lifetime sentence that no one should have to endure. Much love to this family and support in their quest to make camps safer for all.
🔹Prayers ascending for you, your wife and all
who knew and love Roxie, and all involved.
🔹Thank you for sharing neighbor. I'm so sorry this is your story. Praying that your hearts will learn to beat again, even with the gaping holes.