You would have been 31 today: beautiful, brilliant, and determined to save the world, or at least make it a better place.

You weren’t able to save the entire world — no one could — but you did indeed make it a far better place simply by being in it.

Your brilliance, your humor, your compassion shone like the brightest star in the firmament for a too-brief 26 years. When that star was extinguished, a huge piece of my heart darkened with it.

But the memories will never fade. I miss you every day, and often think about the years of watching you grow and learn, as you fought through the pain with unimaginable courage and perseverance. And each victory — the “ordinary” things like learning to eat and to walk, and the extraordinary things, like the flood of college acceptances and scholarship offers and awards — joys that you shared with me . . . those are moments I cherish to this day.

Rest well, my angel. No, you could not save the world; but you gave it your best shot.

All my love, always . . .
Nana
9/23/26