“I am four and have a teddy bear.”

“I am the great-grandmother. This is my granddaughter and great-granddaughter. I turned 73 last month. We call my house the day care because I keep the kids while their parents work. I had four daughters, but I just lost two. They both had Lupas and passed four months apart in November and March. Their names are Betty and Vanessa. Betty was her mom. Betty and Vanessa were close and came to my house every day. I can’t put it behind me, but I try not to think about it too much. Betty had five hip replacements and then a knee replacement days before she passed. She said when she had that knee fixed she was ready to put on high hills and be strutting again. We say she is in heaven wearing her high heels.”

“We buried mama in gold high heels. We go to Grandma’s house every day. I have learned from her to not let anything stop you. Keep pushing. When my mom passed in November, I felt like she came back to get her sister because she couldn’t be up there by herself.”