Thursday, May 2, 2013

Hope

This is my cousin Hope. She unexpectedly passed away sometime during the night last Sunday. She was only 22 years old.

Photo


I cannot even imagine what it was like for my aunt Claire last Monday morning when she went into Hope's room to see why she hadn't gotten up yet. I cannot even imagine what it would be like to lose a child. It breaks my heart and I'll admit I have been hugging my kids just a little bit harder all week.

Hope had some brain aneurysms a couple of months ago that were operated on. Although there was a scare during the surgery, she came out of it fine, and we all thought she'd be ok. In fact, just two weeks ago, I saw Hope and her sister Emma riding down the street in their van blaring their music and dancing and waving their arms out the window at me. It made me smile.

She had complained of pain a few times since the surgery, and especially last week when her dad and my Dad gave her a blessing last Sunday night. We don't know what exactly happened yet and what caused her death, but I do know that it must have been her time to go.

Hope also had myotonic dystrophy, the same disease my mom and sister have, although Hope had a more severe case of it, along with Hope's mom and two sisters. It makes me happy to think that she doesn't have to suffer from that anymore, that she has been made whole by the power of the Atonement. And I'm pretty sure she went straight to the celestial kingdom. It makes me happy to think that now she will be able to get married and have a family--something that may not have happened here because of those limitations.

Life is fragile. Life is precious. But thank goodness that life on earth is not the end. See you on the other side, Hope!

2 comments:

The Lively's said...

Life is Fragile!!! So sorry about your cousin! :(

Kristen Brady said...

Sad to hear about this. Isn't the gospel wonderful though, as it makes these separations just a little easier to bear - not painless, just full of hope! Love you!