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We would like to share with the visitors at Em's site a story that one of Em's  friends/classmates sent to our family this year.  She had wanted to share this story with us for a long time but wasn't sure about our reaction.  We were just so proud that Em played such an important role in Kiley's life.  It just goes to show how one life can be impacted by someone else.  Kindness really matters. 

To back up and give a little preview into Kiley and how she has in turn been an awesome friend to our family.  At Em's visitation, we remember Kiley being very distraught by the loss of her friend.  Ever since we met Kiley, we have come to care for her very much.  She quite often will write to Em on the guest book and never misses an anniversary, birthday or holiday.  I (Selena) remember being at a send off for the volleyball team in which the team acknowledged Em by releasing balloons before they left for the game.  It was a very difficult time for me.  I wished so bad that Em would have been playing in that game.  Kiley sought me out after the team and I launched the balloons and said the "just Du-its".  She seemed to really understand my sadness.  Kiley attends Em's yearly volleyball tournaments and quite often will stay the entire afternoon and is sure to be there for the finals.  Her commitment to Em's memory and the gift she is and the story she shared is a treasure to our family.  

Thank you Kiley for your friendship to Em and now to her family.  We know your life will go on to impact others just as Em has had an impact on yours.

Kiley's Story

Everyday since I started school, there was always that one person that would crack the joke; making fun of me because I was the "bigger girl in high school". High school was when it got really bad.  Kids that I didn't even know would make fun of me.  The pain, hurt and ridicule got so bad that I would cry myself to sleep at night.  I would cry in school because I didn't understand why or how people could be so mean to someone that they didn't even truly know as a person.  They just looked at the outside appearance not the inside and the good qualities that the person may contain.  My junior year in high school right at the beginning it got even worse.  I was made fun of everyday.  It got so bad that kids would actually "moo" behind me in the hallway.  Emily and I had always had classes together and I envied her spirit, her kindness, and her warm heart.  The first time that I had actually ever had a "real" conversation with Em was at a football game.  I was sitting by myself on the bleachers, freezing to death because I didn't really dress for the weather.  She came right up and started talking to me without judging me.  She even offered to let me use her blue blanket that she had in her bag so I wasn't so cold.  We were talking about Homecoming and the dress that she had just bought.  She was just so nice! She never once had a bad thing to say about anyone.  She welcomed me to hang out with her the rest of the night.  She brought me over to where the "tailgaters" were at; the ones who made fun of me some of the time or just shut me out completely.  Once they saw that I was something other than the "bigger" girl, they realized that I did have some good qualities.  She included me in it all and stuck by my side the whole night, making sure I was having a good time.  Most people do not know but the night of that football game I was going to commit suicide because the pain and hurt got so bad and I felt like no one in that school would even care if I was gone or not.  Emily truly helped me that night.  I believe that she saved my life!  She was the first person I felt truly cared about me. 

This is my story of how one person can do a great deal to another.  Sometimes I think that the person making the joke or picking at another does not realize how much pain and hurt they might be causing.  Emily's mom, Selena, sent me a quote and it goes like this, "Be kind; for everyone is fighting their own battles".  If you see someone down, give them a smile and brighten up their day a little.  A smile or just a short conversation and inviting someone to come hang out with you can do alot for a person.  It just might even save their life!