Imagine your life being turned upside down ...

You're a college student, living away from home --
your only sibling, your sister, is your roommate.

Suddenly one Sunday evening, your sister is gone.
In an instant, you lose your sister and your best friend.
You're alone.  Can you ever recover?

After losing her sister, Crystal withdrew from
North Carolina State University, moved back home
with her parents, yet continued to go to the local
community college aspiring to one day
return to a university and obtain her degree.

She was married on 3/2/02.
She moved halfway across the United States from
North Carolina to Kansas as a newlywed bride
to a land of strangers. She entered the university there
as a part-time student while working a full-time job.
She made new friends and her life with her new husband.

In December of 2002, she and her husband agreed
that it would be best for her educational goals
if she could return to North Carolina and re-enter NCSU.

So that's what they did.
She transferred (again) with the company that she had
worked for since the age of 16, and returned to NCSU.

She took a full load of college courses, continued working
and persevered. She attended school even throughout the
summer. She has been brave and is a survivor.  She has
continued to live ... every day thinking about the
sister and best friend that she lost that day.

I am proud to call her my daughter.
She's a special person with a kind heart and a personality
that sparkles when she enters a room.  She loves
absolutely everyone and is such a sweetheart to be
around. She has a soft spot in her heart for all children,
the elderly and animals.  She doesn't have a mean bone
in her body and makes friends very easily.

Today, on 12/14/03, as we prepare to watch her receive
that much-deserved college degree next week, I want to
share her achievements with the world. Not only has she
survived the worst tragedy that anyone could ever imagine,
but she has also done it while holding her head high.

Especially for you Crystal ...
You can be proud of yourself and your accomplishments.
Your sister and Grammy are certainly sharing in your joy
now as they smile down on you from Heaven. :o)
 

Congratulations, Crystal!

You did it and we're proud of you!

Love, MamaBear & PapaBear



 

Won't you please take a moment to sign Crystal's guestbook?
 

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