This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2014, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
I was devastated to learn this week that a friend that I've known for five years, Alicia Englert, made a terrible decision with a baby that will never be forgotten. I cannot understand any of this because I know her to be a kind, loving, and caring human being. She is someone who has been trusted to care for other people's children for years; she was always kind, caring, and thoughtful to my children, and they considered her a friend.
I am not able to process the hurt and pain caused by the terrible decision my friend made this week, nor can I understand how someone could be so confused and scared to make such a terrible decision.
But I can call her my friend because I know in my heart she is a good person, someone who always showed compassion and love to any child she knew. But I also believe she is a very scared and confused person.
I hope with all my heart that her baby will fully recover from this tragedy and trauma to grow up to be a good friend, like my friend: Alicia Englert.
Rick Dever
Salt Lake City