By Elena Matyas

Roxie should be in a 1st grade classroom at San Rafael Elementary right now. After working through her first day jitters, she would likely connect with her beloved classmates from kindergarten, warm up to her new teacher and engage in the wonder of learning. New challenges, new experiences, new friends, new lessons.

But she’s not there. This is the first of a lifetimes’ worth of milestones we will mourn. Milestones Doug & I will never marvel over.

Roxie was robbed of her future, and the world was robbed of her joy, her laughter, her love and her ability to make you realize what is important.

On the evening of June 4th, 2019, we celebrated Roxie’s half-birthday. Not a usual practice in our family, but “Gramma’s” 2-week visit from Pennsylvania was nearing an end.

To ease the sadness Roxie and Gramma felt, we sang as our girl blew out all the candles on her favorite strawberry vanilla cake. She opened unexpected gifts and soaked up the moment with her eyes so big.

Kids grow so fast. Unless they don’t. Roxie will forever be 6 years, 6 months and 24 days old.