We miss you Deb!

(This is a picture of my Mom with Debbie. I think she looks a lot like Lucy)

The first day of Spring is always a bitter sweet day for me. It is hard to believe that it has been 10 years ago tomorrow that my sister Debbie passed away. Those of you that knew her, knew that she was one of the most caring, kind and compassionate people I have known. Her example has been a strength to me my entire life, but especially these last 10 years. I often wonder what life would be like if she were still with us. I know that she is aware of the things that have happened in my life, my mission, my marriage to Jared, and the birth of each of my babies. And that is comforting to me. For those of you that never got to meet Debbie, I will tell you a little bit about her. She is the third oldest in my family. She was a talented person and always thought about other people. She had many friends because she was a good friend. When I was little I used to sit on the edge of the bathtub and watch her put her make-up on and do her hair & I would ask lots of questions. I am sure I was pretty annoying, but she never made me feel like I was bothering her, A few months after she got married, she was diagnosed with a disease called Scleroderma. Our family hadn't really heard of the disease. At the time Deb was a 2nd grade teacher and she loved her students. The disease progressed quickly and she started to have a hard time using her hands and bending her arms. She also found out that she was expecting a baby. Pretty much every Dr. advised her to have an abortion because the pregnancy would be hard on her body and most likely progress the disease even quicker. She & Dave felt like this baby was a miracle from Heavenly Father. It was a long, hard pregnancy, but Brian was born 2 months premature weighing only 2lbs. 1oz. (He is 12 now). Deb did get sicker and sicker, but she never complained. Her example to me is incredible. She was in pain beyond anything I can imagine, but she still always thought of others and would often ask what she could help me with or what she could do for me. Completely selfless. I was in high school at the time and it was fun to have Dave, Deb & Brian living with us. I felt like Brian was my little brother.

On the first day of Spring, March 20, 1998 Deb passed away at the age of 29. I can say that that experience was the hardest thing I have had to deal with in my life. Losing someone so close to you is heart breaking, but it strengthen my testimony in the Plan of Salvation and it brought my family even closer. You can get through losing someone, but part of you will always miss them. Every family get together you wish she could be there. We miss and love you Deb. "Onward and Upward" is what she would always say. Hopefully one day they will find a cure for Scleroderma. http://www.scleroderma.org/.