On October 26, 2016, A house fire in St. Louis claimed the life of Dashia Martin’s 9-month old son, Dashawn. Dashia had left Dashawn with a cousin so she could go apartment hunting the next day. The mother and son had never been apart since his birth, and now she will never hold him again.
Image Credit: N/A
Dashia said in an interview that she feels a lot of guilt for not being there at the time of the fire.
Fire officials stated that at the time of the fire, there were two other small children and six adults in the building.
Image Credit: N/A
Dashawn’s body was so badly burnt that DNA testing had to be done to identify him. Dashia hasn’t been allowed to see her son’s body while they are preparing for his funeral.
I am not sure I would want to see him – but I can understand her desire to see him. Funeral director Ronald L. Jones stated that there isn’t much to see that will remind her of her son.
Image Credit: N/A
He believes that seeing the burnt remains of her son would only cause her psychological trauma. Dashia may need the closure, however. This is a hard one. I can see both sides.
There is no easy answer, but I think that if the mother wants to see her baby, the funeral home should allow her to see him.
Share away, people.