With rising heat, mom shares loss as warning

[TexasStooge]

By YOLANDA WALKER / WFAA ABC 8

Summer heat will be heading into North Texas over the weekend, and with the scorching sun comes a deadly danger for little ones riding in the car.

In just 10 minutes time, temperatures can rise 19 degrees inside a vehicle. In North Texas, high heat took the life of three children last year after they were left in hot cars.

One local woman said as summer temperatures get closer, she wanted to share her story of tragedy to help other parents.

Michele Terry said she enjoyed every minute she had with her daughter.

"I think she was taking advantage of being babied," she said. "And even though I didn't have her for long, I'm absolutely blessed with the six months that I did have her."

The youngest of three of Terry's children, Mika died after she was left in a hot car for hours on a 92 degree day in July of 2005.

The morning Mika died, her father dropped off one of the girls at the Happy Days Daycare. But on his way to drop off Mika at another daycare down the street, he got distracted by a road block and a cell phone call.

"It's not his normal routine to take the kids to daycare," Terry said.

He drove on to a church in Ellis County where he was scheduled to do some work and left Mika in the car asleep.

"I can just tell you that it happens, and it happens to decent, caring, loving [and] responsible parents," Terry said.

Terry said she wanted to give out the warning so more parents don't have to lose children like the 213 that died in hot cars last year.

"Be very cautious on any changes that you make in your normal routine," she said. "Have a checks and balances system with your daycare. Or have the person who is dropping your child off to check in with you to make sure the child is safe."