An Orange Bracelet
I want to talk about the Light of love and perseverance that this community has shown us and the Light that is seeping into the cracks of darkness to expose the truth.
The strength of this community joining together to spread the message that we will not rest until justice for Preston is achieved remains vigilant today. The Lord Family WILL NOT accept anything but an arrest and conviction against each person that assaulted Preston.
But, let's start at the beginning. Preston, a young 16 year old boy, went out for an evening to attend a Halloween Party with his friends. Not knowing that this evening an unspeakable act of violence would be inflicted upon him and cause his death.
On October 28th we walked into the hospital not knowing what we were about to see would change our lives forever. As I drove to the hospital I was hoping it was just a broken bone and injuries that would heal. As a trauma nurse, the worst thoughts went through my head of what could have happened to him. We didnt expect to see him in the physical condition he was in. They escorted me to the consultation room where they keep family until bad news is delivered. I did not accept that and immediately left the room to find Preston and his father in the trauma bay in the ER. Preston had a severe brain injury and I kept saying why isn't he in surgery? As a nurse I knew that his injuries required immediate surgical intervention to salvage his brain tissue. The doctor was not telling us the extent of damage done to his brain and only that he needed to be airvaced to PCH.
As I sat in the ICU by his bedside with Nick and Autumn. The neurology physician came in and sat with us. I knew what he was going to say before he said it. He began to tell us about the imaging results and that Preston would not recover from this. He went into detail about the damage to his brain and vascular systems.The doctor told us the worst news a parent could hear, our child would never make a recovery from the extent of damage that was inflicted upon him.
Racing thoughts consumed me as I was trying to wrap my head around what had just transpired. This is so crazy, how is he dying. A bright, happy kid one day and the next day he is laying in the street with bystanders doing cpr on him, and now, we have to start making funeral arrangements. We are forever grateful for the brave boys that stepped up to do CPR on Preston because it gave us a day and a half to say our goodbyes and spend time with him. I will always remember holding Preston's hand, stroking his hair and giving him a kiss on his forehead while standing at his bedside in the hospital.
Letting him go was the hardest thing to do. The kids from school wrote him so many messages on heart shaped note pads. We hung them all over the hospital wall. Reading all the notes that the kids from school wrote for him. I will share with you some of the messages. "Preston, I know you'll pull through this, Preston I love you forever man you are in my prayers and I know you will live." "Preston, you are the best friend that anyone could wish for."
Preston touched so many people’s hearts. I knew that he wasn't going to pull through this and how many kids would be impacted by his death broke my heart even more.
I thought, this can't end like this.
This isn't how his story is going to end.
It can't.
What can we do for Preston before his death becomes just a headline in the news and quickly fades the next week? Melissa, Preston’s aunt, was getting messages of people wanting to know how they could help out.
We sat and thought well, kids like bracelets. Let's make a #justice4prestonlord message and make some orange bracelets for the kids. I started designing and ordering the bracelets and Melissa created the gofundme page and put his story on it as a means to keep everyone Informed on Preston's progress. Before we knew it everyone was leaving kind messages and prayers on his gofundme page.
It spread like wild fire.
We never thought that it would turn into this grassroots movement of #Justice4PrestonLord. We never thought his loss of life would touch so many people's hearts. There is strength in numbers. Here we are, standing before a crowd of people who have become our family. You have showed support and love for our boy over and over. How proud and loved Preston would feel if he could see this.
This community shows up.
You have showed up in condolences, laughter, hugs, tears, social media platforms, town council meetings, walks, orange attire, financial and emotional support. The light reveals truth and the Justice4PrestonLord movement has helped reveal these truths. None of this would be possible without you. You are more than a friend on a Facebook page. You ARE the Facebook page. Every time you spoke his name, did a deep dive on the Internet searching for evidence to help catch these boys, made calls to friends to identify information. You were fighting for justice right along with us. So much love has been shown to us, and for that, we are forever grateful.
Justice4prestonlord has transpired into the “be an upstander, not a bystander” movement to educate and inspire our youth to advocate against bullying and stand up against teen violence.
Our community is what caused positive movement not only for Preston but for all the victims that were assaulted by this group of boys and young men.
Fast forward to now our fight for justice has spiraled into justice for all the victims of these boys. Prestons light has put a spotlight on these boys. If we didn't push so hard and keep pressure on law enforcement we may not be where we are today. The police have two mottos to serve and protect. Several parents have come forward saying their reporting has fallen on deaf ears. Parents frustrated with trying to raise awareness of the boys known as the "Gilbert Goons", only to get no response from the Gilbert PD. Prestons light exposed the cases that were reported to the police and neglected. We had cases reopened, arrests were made and victims starting to come forward. We hope to find justice for them also. You should be proud that each and everyone of you have made a contribution of some sort to make this happen.
There is power in the people.
And to think...all this started with an orange bracelet.
—Written by Melissa Ciconte, Preston’s Bonus Mom
