Dear Friends,

In the early hours of Saturday morning my family received the kind of phone call that every family dreads. My neice Lauren was in a serious car accident. For those of you who don’t know Lauren she is my oldest sister Paula’s daughter. She is nine years my junior and the mother of two my children. She was the Maid of Honor at my wedding, like a little sister, she is clumsy, hilarious, full of life and has one of the best smiles I have ever seen. She is a diva, fashionista and an incredible mother.

The first two days after the accident were the toughest. Her injuries were numerous, brain swelling, a broken neck, too many broken ribs, bruised lungs, a large cut behind her ear. She laid in heavy sedation in the ICU swollen but peaceful.

We now know two important facts: Lauren will live. Thank God. And she will walk. Thank God. After that everything else is put into perspective. A long road of recovery is worth it if she continues to have a long life ahead of her.

I believed in my heart that she would not be taken from us. We were ready to live a life altered in exchange for a life without her.

This message may come as news to some of you and just an update for others. In an effort to keep people informed and to be selfishly work through the myriad of emotions that go through your heart and head when dealing with the healing of someone you love—I have started this blog. I will try to update daily or at least have one of us update until life returns to normal (whatever that is) again.

Please keep Lauren in your thoughts and prayers.

Lourdes-Lauren’s Aunt