I got a text at 6 am this morning from our good friend Becca (The DeWild Family blog link is on the right side of the page)...and she was in labor at the hospital. How exciting!!!! Wished her luck and I was off to school...last Friday of the year with students.
Baby Jack arrived around 10 am this morning...everything went smoothly and everyone is doing well. (See pictures of Keatin and Jack below).
About 45 minutes later, I answered the school phone and it was Cheryl's husband...and my stomach dropped and I knew... Cheryl passed away this morning in her sleep.
It is even hard to write about it now... It was the most trying day at school ever. Two of Cheryl's daughters are middle school students (which is connected to our elementary school)...and Cheryl's husband asked Chris/myself to go get them...and we had to tell them. Ugh - I tear up just thinking about that moment, those minutes right now.
Staff had to be told, students had to be told. Like I said previously, the kids LOVED Cheryl. She REALLY connected with the kids. Chris and I split up and we were in & out of every classroom in the school, telling the students. I cried, kids cried. I had kids in my office who couldn't pull it together. I talked to 2 1st grade boys for a long time...and one said - "I wished I could have seen her one more time." Sigh...don't we all. I talked to all 70 kindergarten students together...one asked - "where is Cheryl now?" I said she was in heaven, and another boy said - "oh good - that is a wonderful place and the streets are gold there."
I saw Cheryl 2 times on Wednesday and I got to hug her lots...and we had a really nice visit. I stopped again yesterday after school, and she couldn't keep her eyes open...I just held her hand while she slept. I squeezed it when I left, and whispered goodbye. I secretly hoped she was just tired...but I could tell things were different.
This has been a whirlwind of a day.
2 comments:
Oh Megan. I am SO sorry! I am so glad that you were there to help with the situation. You are one of the first people I could think of that could handle this situation with the grace required. I will keep her family in my prayers. It is sad for us on Earth when God answers prayers in ways we wish he didn't. BUT He did heal her by calling her home. I am sorry that your school year ended this way. But am thankful that those kids do know what heaven is.
Megan, I'm so sorry to hear about your loss. Cheryl sounds like she was a great friend and co-worker. The kiddos in your school are so lucky to have you to help them through this tough time. You guys are in our prayers.
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