Mother dies trying to rescue disabled son from Lawrence fire

very very sad....

i knew sean very well my sister dated him, they went to his senior prom. my prayers go to the family

i knew sean very well my sister dated him, they went to his senior prom. my prayers go to the family

Dear God, this is heartbreaking. My condolences to all.

Heroic bravery by a loving mom....

Sean was a great kid. i was able to spend time in marketing with him and able to share laughs and smiles with him before he graduated. He didnt desrve to go. He was a sweet kid with a huge heart and did anything for anyone at any time. God bless you sean and we miss you terribly.

What am I missing here? Six foot five inches, second floor and can't climb down or jump?

My heart goes out to the family. As a mother, I would have done the same.

Dave - did you miss the "developmentally disabled" part?

Am I reading Dave correctly? Questioning why a young man who was developmentally disabled would not jump down from a second story because at his height he should be able to? I don't think I have ever read a comment so void of any empathy or compassion. Dave, maybe you should start questioning yourself and your thought process instead of guessing at others. Disgraceful.

Dave, you missed the part that stated Sean was mentally retarded!!

Did you read the artical and see that had some developmental issues? Maybe you missed that part -

What am I missing here? Six foot five inches, second floor and can't climb down or jump? - Posted by Dave November 3, 08 12:37 PM
Dave,
As to question one, the answer is thoughtfulness and compassion. As to your second question, the answer will probably never be fully known, although it may have something to do with being "developmentally disabled".

If you can't show some compassion and thoughtfulness, please keep to yourself. My heart goes out to Mr. Cahalane.

My heart and prayers go out to this family. As a mother I hope that if ever in the same horrific situation I would react exactly how this mother did.
May they rest in peace.

Dave: If you read the entire story, Sean had developmental disabilities. I'm thinking this may have played a part in his not wanting to jump out of the window.

As a mom, no matter how old the child, I can see why she went back in to try and save him. I'm sad to hear that it ended this way.

As a mother, I hope this prompts all families with or without disabled children, to get together and develop and practice their fire escape plans.

Very, very sad. My condolences to the family.

I went to Middle School and High School with Sean. He was a great guy and nothing could ever get him down, i'm honored to have known him and i pray that him and his mother rest in peace.

Though it is easy to be numbed to the seemingly every day stories of premature death (most due to idiots who drive or otherwise behave recklessly), this is the kind of story that should still affect anyone. Two obviously kind, well-meaning citizens who did absolutely nothing to bring this terrible tragedy upon themselves. Honestly, it's a story like this that keeps me from believing in any divine power (though this is just my personal opinion, and I'm in no way criticizing the beliefs of others). Just so sad.

To Dave,

I hope you get to read this. Your post under this story is one of the most heartless and despicable posts I have ever read anywhere. Any profanity in it ? No. Anything really sick that jumps out at you ? No. But to ask such a stupid question publicly about such a heartbreaking tragedy is about as low as a human being can go. Here we have a woman who loved her develpmentally disabled son so much that she gave her life to try to save him. Can you even comprehend that Dave ? I don't think you can comprehend much to tell you the truth. It's readily apparent that you have never known that kind of love nor will you ever know it. I'm sure you are a loser with nothing better to do than to try to stir up things through a computer. Pathetic.

To Dave,

I hope you get to read this. Your post under this story is one of the most heartless and despicable posts I have ever read anywhere. Any profanity in it ? No. Anything really sick that jumps out at you ? No. But to ask such a stupid question publicly about such a heartbreaking tragedy is about as low as a human being can go. Here we have a woman who loved her develpmentally disabled son so much that she gave her life to try to save him. Can you even comprehend that Dave ? I don't think you can comprehend much to tell you the truth. It's readily apparent that you have never known that kind of love nor will you ever know it. I'm sure you are a loser with nothing better to do than to try to stir up things through a computer. Pathetic.

My thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victims. This is an awful tragedy. RIP Sean and Linda.

Dave-
Among other things, you should remember before you judge someone, you should "first walk a mile in his moccasins." It is easy to quickly pass judgement and to imply what a person should have done. Until you are faced with a terrible situation, you never know what you will do, or how you will react. Perhaps you should read the story again~and maybe you will read "developmentally disabled." If your comment was an attempt at any kind of warped humor or sarcasm, I hope you realize how distasteful your comment was..

My heart goes out to the Mr. Cahalane. Last evening, I watched the stretchers with Sean and his mother being rolled to row of ambulances parked at the corner and knew what the morning headlines would bring. I shudder to think what the last terrifying thoughts of Sean and his mother were. Sean was definitely a great young man and upbeat every time he passed my house.

The postscript to this is the utter failure of the city to provide adequate fire coverage to the cash cow area of the city. Instead, the area's property taxes are redistributed along with a lot of state support to provide services (like more fire coverage) to the north side of the city.

As the parent of a developmentally disabled child this is heartbreaking because I can see my son in this kid. Panic and crisis don't register the same in these kids and it isn't an issue of knowing what to do but it may have been more a "shutting down" to the emergency leading to this tragedy. Their brains don't fire normally in stressful situations. I deal with this everyday.

God bless this family.

I thought he looked familiar, I have often seen him working at the Andover Market Basket, he was a nice kid (or should I say young man) always smiling and friendly. It is a tragedy and condolences to his family.

Dave is obviously a troll, who else reads a tragic story like this and leaves that type of comment?

Rest in Peace Sean and Linda
His mother gave her life trying to save her child
They both went straight to heaven
We must strive about heater safety

I'm terribly sorry to hear about this tragedy and can only imagine how much Sean and Linda's family and friends will miss them. Speaking for the many customers of the Andover Market Basket who saw Sean weekly at the checkout, his smile and kind nature will be truly missed. Speaking as a mother, Linda's willingness to risk everything to protect her child reminds us of the incredible bond we have with our kids. Like jmw, I'm prone to skepticism, but if that's not evidence of divine power, I don't know what is!

Although I am numb to most media-hyped stories, there are tears in my eyes as I read this. The poor husband/father left behind to deal with this tragedy. My heart just breaks thinking about what must have been going through each of their minds as the events quickly escalated. I pray that God can be a source of strength for the Cahalane family and friends.

Though I do find what that particular poster said to be a bit insensitive, I can see why he thought that based on this article. While he was developmentally disabled, it was also mentioned that he led a "highly functional" life and was even enrolled in college. Most would assume this would dictate logic in understanding and assessing the situation. I find it a bit discriminatory that people are criticizing that opinion based on a "condition" that was also mentioned to not be much of an issue. Don't take that as me agreeing with his comment, but I also hope others would provide a little mroe common sense than to just cast aside this man as being "mentally retarded," as some have already put it.

Nevertheless, nothing can possibly be expressed for this tragic event other than the deepest sorrow and heartfelt condolences for this family. Never underestimate a mother's love for her child - this is truly a story I will never forget.

So sad.. My condolences to the family.

sounds like a great young man with a devoted, loving mother and father. I am sure they are both with God now....my prayers are with you now Mr. Cahalane, God Bless

jmw: People like Sean are why you should believe in devine power. From my read, he was a gift straight from God. May God hold him and his mom in the palm of His hand. RIP and bless his dad.

How sad. I'm so sorry for your loss. Your family is in my prayers.

Tragic and sad. This should serve as a wake-up call to us all to check our fire escape plan.
As far as the comment by jmw "it's a story like this that keeps me from believing in any divine power", consider the comments recently made Steven Hawking at the Vatican:
"I believe the universe is governed by the laws of science," he told Reuters.
"The laws may have been decreed by God, but God does not intervene to break the laws," he added. We can't rely on God to give provide Hollywood-like rescues in times of tragedy. Rather we must do our best to prevent tragedy in the first place, because God can't break the laws of science to save us if we are in danger. Check your fire escape plan. Check your smoke detectors, have electrical wiring done to code, etc, etc, etc...

This makes me absolutely sick, and I don't mean the comments by "Dave". Does anyone know the family and how we can send condolences? What a wonderful young man and mother. I can only imagine what his dad is going through.

I worked with Sean, and he was a happy person. I'm not a morning person and he could always get me to smile. It's people like him that made the world a tolerable place. He will be sadly missed.

I attended Whittier High School with Sean. He was truly a happy, curious, inspiring person. Rest in peace Sean, and my heart also goes out to his family.

I instantly recognized Sean's happy smile in this article. I have always been impressed with his cheerful disposition. It was always such a treat to run into him at the Market.
Sean will be missed by many, even those of us who did not really know him well, at all.
Sean's mother needs to be remembered as a true hero.

I met Sean only one time for a few hours. I was doing charity work for the Knights of Columbus for the annual Tootie Roll drive. I was in front of Delmoulas in Andover. Sean was working collecting the emply carriages in the parking lot. I was in front of the store. Since I was there for a few hours Sean and I started talking everytime he would come into the store. I gave him about half-dozen Tootie Rolls and he was very thankful. For the few hours that I met Sean, I realized that he was a special soul. Why God would take him and and his mother we will never know. I guess God could not wait. God bless his father and family.

Dave you have to be the most insensitive person ever!
I didn't know Sean personally but i went to the same public school as him and i always remember his booming smile. he was an amazing kid and my prayers go out to his family.

This is such a tragedy. May their souls rest in peace and may the surviving and may Mr. Cahalane one day find peace. They are all in my prayers.

To Dave, a young man is dead, and his mother gave her life trying to save him. May someone love you that much.

I do not know the family, but my heart goes out to the father. What a shane, may they rest in peace. God bless, may the father found peace and have faith

i live down the street from sean and his family, i also worked with him at marketbasket. i just have one thing to say, the family of sean and his mother are going through so much, and at 7:50 p.m. i passed by on my way home, and still reporters are there. leave the house, they are going through enough, they dont need you infront of their house.
sean im sorry they surround your house, rest in peace buddy, your going to me missed

I was going home from Merrimack College at that time near St Patricks and I saw several fire trucks screaming down Broadway like I've never seen before. I had a bad feeling -many fire trucks and really flying. I tried to follow down broadway to Mt. Vernon, but they were already out of sight, so I gave up. LFD was there real quick from what I could tell.

What a wonderful family and truly sad.

we love our children....
God Bless you mom !
May you have eternal peace !

My son is developmentally delayed as well and Jean please refrain from using the term mentally retarded, as it is an inappropriate term. This is so heart wrenching. However, it does show you what a mother's love is truly all about. Blessings to the family.

I knew sean a little because my friend use to take the bus with him to whitter. He use to walk around my neighborhood and i would see him but this was 2 to 3 years ago. I use to play catch with him and wiffleball. He was such a great kid always with a smile. I have not really talked to him since but my condolences go out to his family and close friends. Rest easy Sean.

I'm so sorry for this family.

What a beautiful boy, and a horrible loss -
God Bless you mom,
Rest in Peace
My condolences to the family

I knew Sean and I am proud to say that I did. It wasn’t until today when I started to think about him so much that I realized that, although I am an instructor where he attended high school, I think I learned more from him than he could have ever learned from me. Sean always had a smile on his face and a good thought in his heart. No matter what was going on he was always happy. I would see him most mornings and he would always smile and say good morning and it was today that I realized how much I will miss that, even though he graduated two years ago. My prayers tonight will be for Sean and Linda that they have found peace as well as for Russ and that your pain is eased by knowing and hearing how much your wonderful son meant to so many who knew him, from the people he met just once to those who knew him for many years.

Now to Dave, I will pray for you also tonight, but that prayer will be that you some day find the simple intelligence, beauty and unquestioning love that was in Sean. I forgive you your incredible ignorance that would allow you to post such unfeeling comments among all those of love and remembrance, something Sean or Linda would never have done. Furthermore, I will pray that you never have to go through what Mr Cahalane and everyone who knew Sean or Linda are going through tonight.

I worked with Sean and I still am in disbelief he is gone. He would always put a smile on everyones face. He truly will be missed by everyone who knew him. My thoughts and prayers go out to his family.

My condolences to the family, very good family friends of mine i will miss you linda and thank you to the family that has done so much for my family we love you soo very much

I Went School with Sean.. He was on my bus... He was such a nice Kid.. Always Makin people Smile.. He was the heart of C4... The Bus Driver Evan even Loved him.. There was So many Good Memories with Sean that I could Never forget..
I cant believe this happened.... This is now my second friend who Pasted away this year... You will be Dearly Missed Sean....
My Condolences go out to Seans Dad.. and His Family....
I am So Sorryy for your loss.. I Hope Linda and Sean Rest In Peace.. even though it was way to early for them to go...<333
Sean will always Be in my heart and Prayers<333

I went to school with sean. He was the nices person there. He wanted everyobe to just be friends and he had the biggest heart. He put a smile on my face. I am so sorry what happen. I send love to the family. I still cant beleve this happen to the him.

I was Seans main friend at the work place. The instant he saw me applying for the job he came up and introduced himself. He was there to train me and get me situated at market basket. When it was cold he would insist i take his jacket and stay warm while outside doing carts. He never seemed down, no matter what happened and he brought a happier feeling into the workplace. He was a diligint woker and was hoping to be promoted to dairy in the near future. It still seems unbelievable that he is gone, It's true you dont know how much you miss them until they are gone. I will never forget Sean, Ethan

what a heartbreaking event. I pray this father finds peace. i can not think of a more selfless act than that of this mother-a true hero. it sounds like this community was truly blessed to have these two individuals amoung them.

My Love and Thoughts go out to the entire family. I worked with Linda (mommy) for 8 years. She was a very caring mother for her own kids and many of her friends and family. Sean was an amazing kids who would not think twice about doing anything for anyone. My thoughts and prayers go out to Meghan, Russ, and Jeremy. WE WILL NEVER FORGET LINDA AND SEAN.

Dave: You need to get a life and figure out how to think before you type!!

Let's hear it for the goobers who can't tolerate dissenting opinions. All you little people who think its not okay to ask tough questions when someone dies, get over yourselves. Today's update on the story asks THE SAME QUESTION I DID. How 'bout them apples?

I knew Sean though school.. i was a freshman at whittier tech when he was a senior.. while i was in marketing i remember he would always try to help me and if i had any questions he would be the first to try to help me understand.. i was soo upset by the news of his death.. i had a bad feeling as i went to bed sunday night and when i woke i saw on the news of a fire in lawrence down the street from my house.. i thought nothing of it untill i got to school and was informed it was sean and his mother.. i was not very close to him but i do remember him very well.. infact i would always see him when i would go to market basket.. i remember the last conversation i had with him.. he asked me about school and he proudly told me about how things were goin for him..he was always smiling no matter what.. im fact i saw him the other day and i clearly remember how cheerful he looked
RIP SEAN.. youve helped me reilze i take life for granted
RIP LINDA .. your a true hero
and im SO SORRY RUSS

To Russ Cahalane - The Mount Vernon Neighborhood is in shock. We are all so sorry for your loss. Please know that many, many people are praying for you in this time of loss.

to Dave - I don't think anyone could say it kinder than "Mr. P." in comment 51. My heart echos his sentiment. Perhaps some day you will realize that "heartless cruelty" and "a dissenting opinion" are two very different things. I will pray that the Holy Spirit touches you, and you are blessed with this insight and wisdom.

Sean was my favorite bagger, everytime i was having a bad day he would always make me smile. if someone was alone in the breakroom, he would make it a point to say hi and make sure everyone was happy. he will truly be missed.

rest easy buddy <3

Sean was my coworker at market basket. He will truly be missed by me and all of the other workers. Going to work these past two days have been horrible for me. We worked together everyday and he was always the first person to greet me. It is my job to run the checkout and he always told me that he would help me by managing the baggers to make my job easier so I only had to take care of the cashiers. He truly cared about everyone in the store whether they were a customer or an employee. Of course he insisted on telling everyone that i was "his girl". I was told Monday morning at 10 am by a friend and I was at Salem State and I had to rush home because there was no way I could go on with my day knowing that I had lost Sean. When I walk into the doors of MB my eyes begin to water. Work will never be the same for me. I cant remember a Saturday morning that I had to open the store without him being there with a huge smile on his face. Sean, you will be missed, Rest In Peace

This is probably the saddest story I've ever read. His picture he looks like a beautiful boy, I'm sure he was from the comments here. God bless them all. I pray no one ever has this happen again...

My son worked with Sean at Market Basket. I never got to meet Sean, but when I would wait for my son to finish his shift at work I would see Sean and my son gattering the empy carts at the end of the night. My son was new to the job and Sean was helping my son line up the carts around the plants outside the Market. I could tell he was a kind person.
His smiling face will be missed at the store.
Rest in peace Sean and Linda...
My heart goes out to The Family.