Today the world lost an amazing woman. She was wise, compassionate, empathetic, insightful, and incredibly supportive. No, you will not see her face plastered to the walls of everyone's Facebook page. She was not a celebrity icon that everyone seems to idolize. She was not a public face that the world will cry over because of her philanthropic deeds. However, her face will be plastered in my brain forever. No, she did not impact the main masses, but to many autism parents, she represented so much.
Hundreds of us were shocked this morning, to wake up and find that she had so suddenly died. Many of us had been talking with her hours prior to the announcement. Tears were flowing. Kind words were being spoken. Many people expressed their shock and hope that it was some sort of hoax. People started praying, sending good thoughts for the family, and binding as an autism unit. We were expressing our concern for the children. How were they coping with this? What did this mean for them? Reality really hit our little community hard.
There was talk of wills and special needs trusts. Talks of individuals wishing they could do more. As I was sitting there dumbstruck as everyone else, I saw through the patterns and talk. I saw a woman, taken far too early, who's name most people will never know, showing us the way. Even in her death, she was guiding us down paths we needed to travel. Our conversations were opening minds and forcing people to look at their own families and what they had done to ensure that, if they passed, our children would be cared for. Through all the tears, recommendations, kind words, and banding together, I swear I could hear her telling us, "Way to go! Keep it up." Somewhere, she was smiling.
No, the world won't talk about it. No, she won't be on national news. Her children will likely never know how many people she touched, but dammit, she did. Even if the universe doesn't know it, they lost a gem today. Being amongst the autism community, we form families. We make bonds. We love without judgement, for the most part. Our lives are hard enough, that a word of compassion or just someone that understand means everything. We lost one of our best today. It is an incredibly heart wrenching loss.
I want to do something. I want to send flowers, a card, or even something for the kids. I want to be there. I never got the pleasure of meeting her face to face, but she was family. I loved her like one of my own. She was one of ours. Together, as a community, we are silently paying tribute in our own ways. It isn't easy. She will be remembered by more people than she could ever know. Her life, as short as it was, touched so many, mine included. So, cheers, love. Your family is in my prayers and you are forever in my heart.
Eloquently put J!
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