Emily

     About four and a half years ago, a young woman reached out to our daughter on Facebook as they shared a relatively rare learning disorder, Nonverbal Learning Disorder (or NLD). She understood our daughter's social isolation and declared that she would be our daughter's friend, one way or another. Several years older and living on the east coast, she knew how hard it was for our daughter to make her way in the world. She sent out her friend Darby the NLD Duck to have some adventures on the west coast. It was such a sweet and understanding thing to do. It seemed as though she was telling us, " Well if I can't visit you, I'll send someone who can!"
     Darby was with us over the Christmas holidays and had many fun adventures with us. From Vancouver to White Rock he saw the sights and we took photos of him and our daughter everywhere. He seemed to enjoy our Canadian customs and was a charming, low-maintenance house guest. Fortunately he arrived back home to New Jersey in one piece.
     Our daughter and I just found out that Emily died a few days ago. We are so sad and can only imagine how bereft her family is now. She was a bright spark in the world; a loving, caring ray of sunshine in an often gray and cloudy world. We cannot help but grieve her loss; we had not met her but felt as though she had cared for us nonetheless. That's the kind of person she was. Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone who knew her....the world truly is a lesser place without Emily.