Victim impact statement by Amanda Proulx

The following statement by Amanda Proulx, daughter of Anita Proulx, was read into evidence at a sentencing hearing for Clayton Lapensee today.

Lapensee will be sentenced on February 12 after being convicted of driving while impaired, causing a four-vehicle collision that killed Anita Proulx and injured Amanda Proulx.

On January 17, Lapensee was convicted of driving while impaired and causing a four-vehicle collision that killed Anita Proulx and injured Amanda Proulx.

The full text of Amanda's statement was provided to SooToday.com by Anita's family members.

Their hope is that people who read the statements will gain a clearer understanding of the horrifying damage drinking and driving wreaks upon families and the community at large.

************************* On November 25th, my mother, my son - who was eight-months-old at the time - and I were on our way to do some Christmas shopping. Shopping was something that my mom and I did to spend time together. Following shopping we would go for something to eat or surprise my dad and bring home dinner. November 25, 2005, was the last time I had a conversation with my mom. It is also the last vision I have of her.

Most of the time when I close my eyes, I can still see my mom slumped over the steering wheel and not responding to me calling for her - not even a movement. Ever since that day it has been a roller-coaster of emotions. Sometimes I feel like I should be crying when I am laughing.

My mom was awesome. She would do everything in her power to give my brother and me what we needed. She never passed up the chance to give us a hug and tell us she loves us. My son and I moved home in September 2005 and she was so happy, she was on top of the world. She loved being a grandmother. Every day when she got home from work she would pick up her grandson, look at me and say: "Do you know how happy I am that you both are here?" She could not wait for Christmas to watch her grandson open his first gifts and for his first birthday in March. Well that dream of hers never came true. She never got to experience any of his firsts - Christmas, birthday, first steps, first words, first tooth, not even one of his heart-melting hugs. She was not even able to attend his baptism which was two days before Christmas.

Summer was all she could talk about and going to camp at a new campsite which would have been my parents' first year having a seasonal. My parents started camping just a few years ago and they bought a trailer to set themselves up for retirement in the years to come.

It breaks my heart to know that whenever I get married, she will not be there. I even thought about having a special dance for my mom and I could go on and on about what she will miss but I think the idea is there.

At the end of January, 2007, my son was sick with a temperature of 104, blisters in his mouth and he was not eating, and waking up in the night screaming. The doctor at the emergency told me he had tonsillitis. If my mom was here she would have known what was wrong. I really need my mom right now. I could ask her for advice when it came to my to my son. When I lived in my own place I called her every day just to say hi and tell her I love her. It is so hard knowing that I will never be able to tell her that again. I crave giving her a hug and watching her be so happy. I crave the sound of her voice. I wish my son had the chance to grow up and get to know his grandma. I was told that earlier that November day my mom was having a conversation with a co-worker/friend about losing her mom at an early age, and she needed to take care of herself so her grandchild could get to know her. It is so hard to believe that my mom is part of my - our - past and will not be part of our present or future. I am glad that my father got a kiss from my mom before we left the house that day and she got to have a nap and feed her grandson one last time. I do, however, wish that my brother got to see her again, the last time was Thanksgiving, when we went to visit him in Kingston, which was right before he left for Pakistan for his tour.

************************* Full coverage of today's sentencing hearing Crown seeks five years for Lapensee Victim impact statement by Tricia Proulx-Medaglia Victim impact statement by Ken Proulx Victim impact statement by Renee Schell Victim impact statement by Amanda Proulx Victim impact statement by Kenny Proulx Victim impact statement by Lynda Bertulli

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