The Abbink Family recently received a Sunshine Kids Radian80 and a Britax Regent for their two oldest boys, addressing the different needs of each child. Our deepest thanks once again to Tim Tichy for installing and instructing our recipient family on these car seats.
Here's what Kris Abbink had to say about her experience:
To all the Kyle Miller Foundation ‘Family’,
I can’t thank you enough for the Regent for my eldest son and for the Radian80 for my 2nd oldest son. There is no way to put into words the feeling of security you have just given our family. I have always been very adamant about car seat safety. Even with the things I have learned in reading and all that, I never knew about the harness seats going above 40lbs. I guess I thought that when I read 40lbs, it’s because that was all there was. And as in your writing about Kyle, it says you never know how others drive. That is always how I have felt and thought. You’re also right in your saying that a child’s safety shouldn’t be a privilege to have these seats. Unfortunately it just doesn’t always work that way.
Once I learned of Kyle’s video I started thinking and wondering how I could do this for my children. There was just no way to do it on our own. With your help though, my kids are safe.
As I drove to the installation place, I drove with my children in boosters thinking this will be the last time they are not as safe as they could be. And when we left there I had a feeling of comfort that I can’t even explain. It’s just crazy how I knew the day was coming, and yet when it was here I still thought about it like I had just found out.
It touches us so deeply that you have helped out our family. I don’t know how I could ever face the world without my children. My 2nd oldest son was born just 6 days after Kyle, and he, along with the rest of my children, are my world. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart for this. As we get back on our feet I look forward to coming back to the foundation to pay it forward.
Our installation tech, Tim, was very helpful and made sure I understood all the installation and features of both seats for my children. When we got to putting the seats in the car, he was talking to me about becoming a tech myself, honestly I had thought about it before. But seeing what knowledge he taught me, and what safety was passed onto me by his help and your passion for protecting children everywhere, I will be looking into how I go about this.
I consider you all a part of our family; you will always be in our thoughts and prayers. God bless.
The Abbink Family
"The kids love their seats, and I still can't fully put into words what the foundation has done for us. Steven is the only kid in his class in a car seat, and because him and I watched Kyle's video together, he has not given me one ounce of trouble over it. He actually loves his seat! I am so proud of him.
I have been spreading the word on carseat safety and with the knowledge you have on your site, and what you have given me and our family with our seats, I am always telling others what great seats they are and have convinced people to buy them for their kids. Its a great feeling to know they are looking for the safety I have found, thanks to you and the foundation."
The Abbink Family reached out to us once again for assistance - this time for their twins who are quickly approaching outgrowing their convertible car seats - we have been able to assist one twin so far with a further Sunshine Kids Radian80. This time, the installation was performed by Amy Borg, CPS Tech to whom we extended our deepest thanks for her time and expertise in educating the family on the installation of the seat:
Here is what Kris Abbink had to say about this experience:
"We went today to get a carseat for one of the twins. When we arrived Amy was very prompt in helping us and the entire thing went very well. She showed me the carseat installation and had me install the seat on my own so that I was sure I was doing it properly. [My daughter] was great about getting fitted into her new seat.
Each time my children are buckled into seats from your foundation, I think about Kyle and remember how lucky I am to have this extra safety for them having these wonderful seats to continue to keep them harnessed. It truly is a blessing to have your help. No words can express my thanks to the foundtaion. Thank you all from the bottom of our hearts.
I have also included a picture of [other twin], who went with us today.
God Bless,
Kris"
The twin who was waiting on our assistance:
The final car seat for the Abbink family was delivered on Wednesday 22nd August. Kris Abbink took the CPS course herself recently and was able to install all four of the donated seats in their new family vehicle.
Here's what Kris had to say:
"To the Kyle Miller Foundation 'family',
Once again our family was blessed by your help. Our last car seat arrived today. We have 4 children and they all fell into the size/weight for the Radian80 or Regent. With our situation currently and in the last year and a half especially, there was no way that we were able to provide these seats for children on our own. I feel beyond fortunate to have the help from the foundation that I have been given. Our last seat arrived directly to my home this afternoon. Since our last install I was lucky enough to be able to get my CPST. We changed our middle son from the Radian to the Regent and our twins have Radians now and the older boys have the Regents. We also just got a family vehicle, something else we have been without since December. It was great to put all our children in the same vehicle. They fit well. I did have to adjust how I wanted them sit in there, but that was to get the best fit for the car seats. And due to the belt styles, the Radians fit better in the back and the Regents in the middle. But they are all safe and sound, so that's what matters most.
I can't thank you enough for this, I really can't. I want to take the knowledge of Kyle and spread it so that others are aware and take more precautions when it comes to their kids' and vehicle safety. I know that you're working on that every day, and if there is anything I can do to help I will in a heartbeat. Your family is forever a part of ours. Thank you truly from the very bottom of my heart. I will take my CPST knowledge and help everyone that I can, in any effort to make a difference. God bless.
Warmly,
Kris Abbink and the Abbink family"
Latest pictures from the Abbink Family:
