coping

"On February 9th, 2011 we lost an exceptional young woman who touched the lives of many with her bright mind, cheerful attitude, beautiful smile; and her overwhelming love for her family and friends.

Just two weeks shy of her 17 birthday, Katie passed away in a terrible car accident while driving on a sleet-covered rural road. She had so much joy and love to share, and as an academic scholar, her future was filled with the promise of success. A fantastic big sister, an amazing daughter and granddaughter, an exceptional student and a child who exemplified the spirit of love through her beautiful smile, Katie is truly missed by all."  from the foundation website

tomorrow will be a tough day for everyone in the lphs community....i can't even begin to imagine how hard it must be for katie's parents each and every day without her.....i know how profoundly her death affected everyone she knew, and how it has impacted our community.  i cant say how much i admire the courage it has taken for her friends and family to move forward, especially in the establishment of katie's foundation.  it brings it all to the forefront how we all COPE as individuals and as a community.  whenever any kind of tragedy strikes, it seems like we all struggle to find something to DO....to get through it....and to try to make it make sense somehow. 

as a community, lphs has lost several people close to our hearts....mr mahon, katie, mr king.....we are rallying around keegan (who is doing much better) after his awful accident....and after each tragedy, we immediately jumped into action.....mr mahon's 5k, katie's drive to survive course and scholarship, mr kings coffee house night, keegans prayer circle.....because its how we COPE with the incomprehensible.

In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life. It goes on. ........Robert Frost

as with our friends and family stricken with cancer.....we jump onboard the CAUSE of getting them well....its why i think the breast cancer walks are so successful - it makes you FEEL like you are DOING something positive, in the wake of devastating news.  we rally around the STUFF that brings us together - so we can share somehow in each others grief....we buy pink bracelets, and purple shirts.....yellow ribbons, and buttons with initials....all so we feel CONNECTED in some way....it unites us, while giving us purpose.....

The capacity for hope is the most significant fact of life. It provides human beings with a sense of destination and the energy to get started.

- Norman Cousins

its the HOPE that tomorrow will indeed be better or easier that motivates us TODAY....it's in the attempts to move forward, to make sense, or to find peace that we find our purpose.....this blog is a direct result of my needing to DO something to pay tribute to an exceptional woman.....is it enough?  sometimes i think so.....sometimes i think not - but it's my way of trying to create something positive from that horrible loss.....does it help john? or laura's kids?  no it doesn't.....but i hope maybe one day it will help them to know how much their mom inspired other people.....does everyone wearing purple tomorrow in honor of katie help her parents get thru the day?  probably not....but it helps the kids deal with their feelings - gives them something to share.....and shows katie's family just how deeply she was loved......its our attempt to stay united as we continue to deal with the loss......

 tonight, all i can hope is that tomorrow brings happy memories of katie....that her family friends share all the good things they remember.....that they all carry a picture of katie's smile in their hearts as they grieve on the anniversary of her loss.



What we have once enjoyed we can never lose.
All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.
- Helen Keller