In November of 2007 my sweet sister in law Wendy was killed by a diesel truck.  Aside from the typical trauma and emotions of a death of a family member Wendy’s death was especially tragic.  In 2000 Wendy had kidney failure which lead to 5 years of dialysis, hospital stays, sickness, and a dependence that was hard for her to experience.  She and my brother Jason have 4 children together which at the time of Wendy’s kidney failure were all under the age of 9.  For years Wendy went to dialysis 3 times a week, had multiple surgeries to make the dialysis process easier, and even got set up with a machine so she could eventually do her dialysis at home and at night.  Then in 2005 there was a doner found that was a perfect match! (because of her high immune system any transplant had to have 6/6 matching points and the highest any of her family tested was 4/6 so this was a rare and very exciting day!) 

After the transplant Wendy got her life back.  She had attended some college classes even while on dialysis and had dreamed of becoming a elementary school teacher.  Once she had her transplant she was able to finish her schooling and right after graduating was offered a teaching job at the school 1 block from her house teaching her favorite grade.  Life was looking up!
It was the Summer before her first year of teaching when she came with me to the hospital as my coach when I gave birth to my son.  I had recently gotten divorced and she was so excited to be on the other side of the delivery room!  She went with the baby to be cleaned up and came back so excited telling me that he was crying and she held his hand and he stopped crying.  She told me “he loves his aunt Wendy already!”.
It was one night the following November we were given the tragic news that on her way home from the store she had been hit by a diesel truck, killing her instantly.
With a family as close as mine is, and this being the first unexpected death, we were all in shock.  How could she be dead?  She had just overcome YEARS of trails!  Her life was finally falling into place.  Their 4 children were now 16, 12, 10, and 8.
I have never seen more people at a funeral.  Wendy had touched the lives and hearts of many.  And we miss her terribly.
But little did we know the tragedy wasn’t over for our family yet.
~See Part 2~

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