![]()
My lifelong friend finally lost her battle with hepatitis Saturday morning, May 8th; she was just 35. I had prayed that she'd live long enough to avoid Mother's Day weekend, but now the joy of that day will forever be marred by the loss of her youngest daughter. I was with my friend when she died; she was also surrounded by her parents, sister, and oldest nephew.
She and I were just 14 when her sister had Phillip. Freshman year of high school should be many things, but we spent it drooling over her adorable nephew. My friend was the most stable of the three kids; her sister had lots of problems at that age, so Phillip, and then Jon, who arrived 2 years later, lived with their grandparents and aunt.
Those boys worshiped the ground my friend Hope walked on. She was obsessed with horses, and she had them riding at young ages. She passed her passion for history onto Phillip and her prowess in the kitchen to Jon.
I hadn't seen either boy in at least 10 years; both of them came to join me as I helped Hope's parents in her final hours. I am so pleased to see that those little boys of my high school years are now 21 and 18 and have turned into respectful, thoughtful young men, which I am sure comes much more from their aunt than their mom.
Their mom has remarried and had a daughter; she's been turning her life around. Their sister, Katie, is as sweet as the boys are; my heart goes out to them as they mourn their favorite auntie who died much too soon.