The 'choking game' that cost Kelly Larocque his life

(EDITOR'S NOTE: The following letter was received today by SooToday.com from Conny Aelick. It discusses the January 7 accidental asphyxiation death of 18-year-old Kelly Larocque of Hilton Township, St. Joseph Island. SooToday.com has discussed this letter today with Kelly's mother, Debbie Larocque, who indicates to us that she approves of its publication. Conny Aelick and Debbie Larocque both attend the St. Joseph Island Free Methodist Church in Hilton Beach.) ********************* Communities left in shock. Parents and families left heartbroken. Acts so senseless and dumb to the point of being unbelievable.

What are our children thinking?

If I had never become a mother I probably wouldn't have been able to experience the grief that I felt upon hearing that another child has died, one from our own church family.

My heart is encased in sorrow for the loss of that child and the sorrow that his family is experiencing.

Where do our kids get the idea that they are invincible, that they can try these stunts and get away with them?

They don't realize the heartbreak that they leave behind because of a "game" gone bad.

They will never know how parents often blame themselves for things they should have seen, or done differently.

They won't know the emptiness they leave behind in the home with one less soul.

They will never see the sadness and loneliness that their sibling experience since they are no longer a part of their lives. I had never heard of this new "fad" that kids are engaging in until this happened in our own community.

I went online to read up on it and to my sorrow learned that there have been several deaths because of this so-called "choking game."

There are many families left grieving the loss of their child.

Has our world literally gone crazy?

In the Larocque family there is a rock.

In the midst of their sorrow they have the one sure thing, the most comforting hope of all.

Jesus is the Rock in their lives that helps them get through the day and will continue to help them in the days, weeks and months ahead.

I saw for myself the strength that they have in Christ their Lord.

It was an encouragement for me because all I could think of was their loss and how terribly painful that this time is for them.

We all imagine how we would handle grief and what we would do at that time but we don’t know our reaction until that time is truly at hand.

I am so thankful for Jesus and for the Holy Spirit's comfort in such a time as this.

I can't imagine coping with life without Christ.

Are you a child, a teen, or even an adult taking chances with your life? It may not be some new "fad" that you're fooling with, but nonetheless you know you are taking chances.

Chances that at one point you may not win.

Are you taking a chance at your eternal future?

Gambling that possibly the gift Jesus so freely gave is not true.

I decided I wanted to know the truth and now Jesus is as real to me as my husband and my kids are.

I cannot see him, I cannot hug him like I can my family, but I feel his presence in my life.

By faith I have accepted his gift of eternal life and through that gift I have hope for my future in this life and in the next.

This faith and hope is what Ovide, Debbie and Alicesa and their families have and cling to and they know they will see Kelly again, safe in the arms of Jesus.

******************* Additional SooToday.com coverage

School principals, police respond to the 'choking game'