An Angel

It pains me to write this post, but our sweet niece, Jessica Wendy Smith, was called to Our Father last Monday after battling Alpers Disease, a rare mitochondrial disorder. I don't have many words to express how I (we) feel; nor would the words I could find do the situation justice. Jessica fought a hard battle over the last 8 months and surprised us all by fighting as hard as she did.

Jessica was a beautiful little girl. She had a smile that would light up the room and a personality to match. She touched many hearts and had a LOT of people rooting for her, even those who didn't know her personally. And in her short, precious life she taught me so much. She taught me that life is frail and fragile. She taught me to love a little harder and hug a little tighter. And she taught me that a parent's love is even more indescribable than I had originally though. I have so much respect and admiration for Wendy and John Wendell that I could never put into words.

I have not been to many funerals in my life, but I can say with pure conviction that Jessica's funeral was the hardest one I've had to witness. No parent should ever have to bury a child and my heart breaks for Wendy and John Wendell.

Wally and I have decided to be a little guarded when it comes to explaining the situation to Caroline mainly because we know she wouldn't truly the concept of death. We have told her repeatedly that Jessica has gone to live with Jesus, that she's an angel and that she is very healthy now. And while visiting her gravesite, we tell her that we are going to see Jessica's pretty flowers. I don't know if we are doing the right thing, but this is something that Wally and I both talked about for hours it seems and this was the best solution we thought we could come up with. We know that as Caroline gets older we will be able to fully explain to her what a special little girl Jessica is.

October 19, 2008 - October 3, 2011