A Lifeline for Families of Vehicle Accident Victims
By ML Ball
Photo by Melissa Langevin
For parents, the death of a child is beyond devastating. Some are so shattered, they never recover. Yet in 2022 when Jeffrey and Jennifer Forlastro of New Milford lost their son Brandon in a motorcycle accident, they decided to turn their grief into action. They created Gears in Heaven, a nonprofit run out of their home which helps the families of motorsport enthusiasts who have been killed or seriously injured in a vehicle accident.
“We’ve been there. We know the heartbreak they’re going through,” says Jeffrey.
After the loss of their son, it was important to the Forlastros to not only honor his life but his passion for cars and motorcycles. “We searched for an organization that would connect with families of loved ones with that same passion, and we couldn’t really find anything,” Jennifer explains. “Brandon always talked about how he wanted to have a nonprofit to help people who couldn’t do things for themselves. So we said, ‘Let’s start something, knowing what people are going through, and give them what they need.’ It all happened very rapidly. Brandon knew a lot of people in the industry. And he also had a lot of friends.”
That helps explain why in such a short time, Gears in Heaven has grown far beyond Connecticut. “We get contacted by families from all over the country, all over the world,” Jeffrey says. “People will say, ‘I just lost somebody and I saw your name on the internet.’ Just about everyone in America knows somebody who has been impacted in some way by a vehicle accident.”
Since each accident victim’s family has its own unique needs, Gears in Heaven offers a wide range of services, including: sending handwritten sympathy cards, placing flowers at a memorial site, organizing candlelight vigils, performing household chores, and assisting with final affairs and probate.
“Our volunteers help in any way they can. If a family needs their lawn mowed or laundry done, they’ll do that. Providing support to families in need is our mission. Thanks to the generous support and gracious love of our sponsors and donors, this is all possible,” Jeffrey says.
Another much-needed service is patient advocacy. As a director of nursing with over 20 years of experience, Jennifer knows how to navigate the healthcare system. “When an accident victim is in the hospital, the family often doesn’t know what questions to ask, how insurance works, or the resources available to them,” she says. “I can work with the medical team and the family and explain things. I know what they’re facing.”
Yet probably the most valuable service Gears in Heaven offers is just being there when families want to talk. “People can call and talk with us for as long as they want, years in some cases,” Jeffrey says. “We’ve been there, we get it.”
When asked if they ever feel Brandon’s presence, both parents answered in unison. “Oh yeah. He’s definitely steering the ship.”
To volunteer for Gears in Heaven or use its services, visit gearsinheaven.org or facebook.com/GearsinHeaven.
