| Jill was born with multiple physical problems and was limited to what she could do physically. In spite of all that, she was never sick, if that makes sense to any one. I always preached to Jill that it is not what happens to you in life, but what you do with what happens that will make the difference. You can either let things make you or break you. They either make you a better stronger person or they destroy you. It is you choice. Jill had many struggles through life but over-came them all. When I brought her home from the hospital they handed her to me and said enjoy her while you can, we don't know how long you will have her. The problems she had were rare and there were only 3 other children in the world that they could track down with the same combination of problems. They kept putting limits on her but she defied all odds. They said she would never crawl, walk, that she would be in a bubble by the time she was 10 and would not live past the age of 12. She did so well for so long. |
| When Jill graduated from High School she was trained at home to be a floral designer. We opened up Give Thanks Floral in our home. She was very talented. Her brother opened a shop for her a few years later. She had some problems and of course once again the Doctors could not figure things out. She ended up being alergic to fresh flowers. We had to close the shop. Jill wanted to stay in the bridal industry so she did some research and taught herself to create porcelain flowers. Each petal was made by hand. She embellished them with Swarovski Crystals and patented the product. They are absolutely beautiful Jills Web Site. About 3 years ago she started having some problems with her lungs. To this day they still do not know what happen. I will spare you all the details. After a 6 week hospital stay and not expected to survive she came home on high doses of steroids. Little did I know, but that was the beginning of the end. She was hospitalized a total of 7 times in 2 1/2 years. The steroids totally destroyed her body. She was on oxygen and in a wheelchair. I won't go into her last hospitalization, but it was not pretty. She went in for her on-going 2 1/2 year lung problem, went back up on steroids, but then picked up the flu from someone in the hospital. She ended up on a respirator for 6 weeks, and for reasons once again unknow, passed away. |
| I do not need to tell you how devastated I was, but I know I am who I am today because of Jill. There are times when it still feels like it was yesterday. There are still days when I can't function or focus. I started hearing Jill tell me the same thing I told her. Mom it is not what happens to you but what you do with it that will make the difference. So, I felt I needed to do what I always preached to Jill and that was make a difference. That is why I have decided to be a part of The-Empty-Room. |
