When we found out I was pregnant with Laurel we were a bit shocked but happy. It was a normal pregnancy, and she was born at 5:30 in the morning on April 7th. She was amazing with lots of hair. We named her Laurel Victoria after two friends. When we brought her home her brother was amazed with her. He called her Baby Laurel and it stuck, everyone called her that.

She was a happy little girl, but stubborn just like her mom. When she was about 2 months old I decided to try to go back to school. I filled out all the paperwork and got ready. I was breastfeeding her at the time and wanted to try to teach her to take a bottle, but she wanted none of that! I got a letter asking me to attend an orientation session that would last all day. At this point Laurel was 4 months old. I was worried because she still wasn't taking a bottle but everyone said she'd be okay. We took her to her four month checkup on Friday and on Sunday we had family pictures taken. That Wednesday was my orientation. Laurel's father works nights at a nursing home, so his sister who lived with us offered to drive me. We would take my Laurel and her brother with us and by the time they got back daddy would be home.

So I strapped her in her carseat and put her in the backseat of her aunt's car. She drove me to school and Laurel fell asleep like I had planned. I got dropped off and my fiance's sister drove home with Laurel. Laurel slept the whole way.

Once home, her aunt got out of the car and went into the house -- forgetting about Baby Laurel. From what I'm told, while inside, she used the computer, did some homework, and took a nap. My fiance slept the whole time and so did my son. About 3 hours after she'd gotten home she went to wake my TJ to tell him that tommy needed to wake up. He woke up and it took a second and then he asked where is Laurel? When he looked at her, he knew and he ran outside and got her and he even performed CPR. The paramedics came and took them to the hospital.

I was at the school this whole time worrying about how long before I'd see my baby. I had filled out all the paperwork and sat thru all the presentations. Then I went to use a payphone to call home for a ride and the ones in that building weren't working. So I decided to go to the next building over to get my student ID and then look for another payphone. Just as I was handed my student ID I heard my name behind me. I turned and asked "Did you just say Candace Johnson?" She said yes and I said that's me. She said wait here, someone is looking for you. I couldn't figure out who. Then I heard her asking her supervisor if she could use his office and I heard something about DCF. I thought something might have happened to Tommy.

Soon, I was taken into the office and three women arrived. One told me her name was Melanie and that she was a victim advocate with the police department. I wasn't sure what to think. She continued and said I'm sorry but Laurel is gone. I just broke down. I couldn't believe she had said that. She went on to explain that Laurel had been left in a car. At the time I was so distraught I thought she said Laurel had been in a car and I thought it was an accident or something. She took me in her car to the hospital. I asked about my son but she knew nothing about him, and I was wondering why. Then she asked if I wanted to know what happened and that's when she told me. All I could think is...not that way...not my baby.

I got to the hospital and had to wait to see my baby. She was gone and had been since before they found me. I was only allowed to touch her hand and her hair. To this day, I ache to hold her again. They say the car was probably 150 degrees that day. She was in our driveway, in her carseat where she should have been safe.

The days since then have been hard. My son tells me he misses Baby Laurel and for awhile asked when she was coming back. Now he just tells me she's with the angels. It is hard -- very hard somedays.

Laurel's aunt was not charged -- it was labeled accidental, with our input. I am doing my best to go on. I still started school. Though we were unable to go home after that, because my fiance's sister lived with us and DCF would not allow her contact with my son. The case has since been closed.

The day before I lost her I was saying that she'd be crawling before 6 months...and now I'll never know.

Candace Johnson
Laurel's Mom