Emily, You Make Me Better

Emily was born two months after my daughter, Miranda. Her mother and I had been dear friends for years before that. I met Emily the night she was born, and since then, she has made Miranda and me, and so many others, better people.

Here is my favorite “makes everyone better” story about Emily:

I worked in Early Childhood Special Education and, as such, knew the fear parents frequently have when learning of a challenging diagnosis for their child. I also knew of the joy these children bring to their parents over the years. One of my newer co-workers learned that the little girl she was carrying would be born with that “little something extra”, Down syndrome. She hadn’t been with us long enough to know the success stories; she had only seen the parents’ fear of the challenges ahead, so she was fear-filled and devastated. Enter Emily. Emily, at 26 years old, offered to write a letter to my co-worker to share about life as a person with Down syndrome. She talked about the challenges and the obstacles. But she also talked about the joys of living a full life. She wrote about the biggest challenge of her life–Asthma. “Down syndrome is NOTHING compared to asthma!”

Halfway through the letter she switched to writing to my coworker’s unborn little girl. She told her she had nothing to fear, that her life would be a full one filled with joy and love. She promised to be the little one’s role model and guardian angel. I get teary just writing this. Emily’s compassion and strength are almost unparalleled in the people I know in this world. She is always there when someone needs her. She always has the right words to say to comfort and uplift someone.

To this day, 12 years later, my daughter and I frequently talk about the need to be role models and guardian angels to people in need. One of life’s best lessons. And we learned it from Emily. Thank you, Emily!

-Marla, Emily’s Family Friend