In a tragic turn of events at Lake Pleasant, a 6-year-old girl's life was cut short after being struck by a boat while out on the water with family and friends. According to an ABC15 report, the incident occurred on a Friday morning when the girl was run over by the boat that her mother was operating.
The Maricopa County Sheriff's Office stated that despite wearing proper safety gear and taking all precautions, the young girl, severely injured after the boat moved forward, later died in the hospital from a leg injury. The boating group, which included six adults and an equal number of children, is said to be experienced in wakeboarding, with officials ruling out impairment at the time.
In the wake of this heartbreaking accident, the girl’s family has begun channeling their grief into an effort aimed at aiding others who are facing their own losses. Blake Wasden, the father of the 6-year-old victim named Sunni, shared with ABC15, "My daughter's name is Sunni, and that's spelled S-U-N-N-I. She just had this bright, sunny, beautiful personality."
Now, drawing inspiration from God and other artists who have endured the loss of a child, such as Toby Mac and Granger Smith, Wasden has created the "Lost Child Podcast" to support individuals grappling with similar grief. "Toby Mac is able to share music; Granger Smith was able to write a book. Maybe I can do a similar thing to help other people just like they've been helping me," Wasden recounted to ABC15. The podcast aims to offer comfort and understanding by sharing stories that can foster community support for the bereaved.
The Wasden family's Peoria home, filled with memories of Sunni, has now been transformed into a studio that captures her spirit, allowing grieving parents a space to share their experiences, some for the first time. Three video podcast episodes are already available for viewing, with the family hoping to bridge the gap between people who want to help and the families suffering a loss. "I wanted to allow people to share their story... then people could have an inside look as to what these parents think, feel so that all of us as a community can help them," Blake told ABC15 in an interview.
