I was intending on blogging about the great news that my daughters' tennis team won the State 3-A tennis tournament...however...in the light of the news that I was given today, I do not think that is appropriate.

I am currently on spring break vacation with my husband and three girls. I returned from a day of shopping to find an IM from my old high school friend, Mary. I was tickled that she connected with me. Unfortunately, when I opened her message, she was asking me if I had heard about what had happened to another dear friend's daughter. Immediately, fear shot through my body. I looked to see if Mary was still on line and found out she was not. These questions NEVER bring good news. I thought I had her phone number, but found out I did not. I called a couple of other friends that I thought would know what had happened. One of the good things about growing up in a small town and maintaining those hometown relationships is that news travels fast - good or bad.

To my dismay, this was bad news. It seems that my friend Tara Storch and her husband Todd had taken their three children on a spring break ski trip to Beaver Creek, Colorado. On Sunday afternoon, their beautiful 13 year old daughter, Taylor was a new skier and was skiing an intermediate slope when she fell backwards and hit her head. She was wearing a helmet, but the blow must have been VERY hard. She was pronounced brain dead and her parents had to make the hardest decision of their lives - to take her off of life support. No parent EVER wants to make this decision or outlive their children. This is not a natural chain of events.

I have known Tara since we were in kindergarten; I only met Todd when they were married over 16 years ago. Tara was always smiling and happy. She was the "baby" sister to three brothers, who worshipped her and protected her. She never met a stranger and was always willing to help those in need. I am sure these are some of the many qualities that attracted Todd to her. I have only met their children a couple of times when they came back to Abilene and attended church. I could not pick them out of a crowd or tell you their names...what I can tell you is that knowing their parents, I am sure that all three are just as loving, caring and giving as their parents.

There have already been EIGHT facebook pages set up, with over 3,000 members, dedicated to Taylor. That says a great deal about the kind of person she was. I have read many of the posts on the sites, and they all are woven with a common thread. Great athlete, beautiful inside and out, happy and always smiling and willing to help others. The list goes on. Taylor will be missed by too many people to count.

Tara and Todd made a very unselfish decision to donate Taylor's organs. Again, this just goes to show what wonderful people they are. Could you be that unselfish? Honestly, I am not sure. I have heard that her organs have already gone to help save the lives of a 39 year old, a 1 year old and two people in Colorado. Amazing!

As I sit here composing this blog, I am in a total state of shock and disbelief. I DO NOT know how Tara & Todd feel at this point, nor will I pretend I do. All I can say to them is I ache for them and I am here to lend an ear, if they need one. I don't know how they will feel about this blog. I hope it will comfort them, in time. And to everyone reading this blog, hold your children close today and everyday. Count each day as a blessing.

Just simply,
Erin