Dear Mrs.Lisa,

Even though you will never see this I just want everyone to know how you changed my life forever and how much you impacted me. The first time I met you at Kensington elementary school and I knew you were going to be my best friend in this life and the next. It was my first day of 4th grade and my mom put me in afterschool, I was dreading going there because I had no friends in my afterschool group and I didn’t even know the teacher that was looking after me. The next thing I know I was moved into your group with all of my friends because you said to the head of the afterschool department “ I need her in my group, I’ll do anything to get her in”. That’s when I knew you were going to be a special part of my life. 

After the first year of me and my family knowing you, you started to become my nanny for my whole time through middle school and the start of high school. We made so many memories. The most memorable thing that happened to us and that meant a lot to me was when I was having a really bad day and you picked me up, brought me my favorite snacks, and gave me the best advice anyone could’ve ever given me which was ¨if no one can see your worth then they aren't worth it”. That will stick with me for the rest of my life because I’ve had so many times since you’ve been gone that I’ve made better decisions because I was thinking about what you said to me that one time I was at my lowest and that’s what made me get through it. Another very important moment in my life that you helped me through was when my grandmother passed you were there for me when no one knew how much I was hurting but you did. You did everything you could for me, you dropped stuff out of your schedule for me and that really made me know how much I meant to you.

On April 8th you passed away. It was the hardest day of my life, I was out with my sister and one of her friends after school, my mom texted us and said ¨can you please start heading home¨, so I and my sister started to be on our way. When we got home our parents called us into the living room to talk to us. They were already crying and me and my sister Nia were very confused and worried at the same time. My mom said, “ I am so sorry but Mrs. Lisa is gone”. I fell straight to the floor in instant shock I couldn’t believe what just heard. My family and I cried in grief with each other for the rest of the day. I needed some time for myself, so I went upstairs and read our messages, the letters you would write me, and all of the pictures we took. The rest of the weekend I stayed in my room and cried because I didn’t know how else to let out my feelings and I was still in shock.

 Your funeral was on May 25th, that was the second hardest day of my life. When I walked in and sat down I felt that you were there  and my tears just came and didn't stop. I saw you laying down in the casket with your eyes closed and all I could think about was “ why, why did you have to leave me”. I stared at you for thirty minutes just thinking about all of our memories. It was hard being with you and not being able to talk to you. Your death shaped me into the way I am by not taking things for granted, and the biggest one of all even if someone is sick or sad they might not show it so you should be nice to everyone and always help someone whenever they need it. You were the best thing that has ever happened to me and the person that will always have the biggest impact on my life. I just want to say thank you for everything you did for me and everything you taught me for the five years you looked after me and were in my life.

 Thank you for helping my family through the hard times, thank you for taking me and my friends everywhere, thank you for always dropping stuff important just to talk when I was sad but most of all thank you for never leaving my side and always being a shoulder to cry on. Thank you for everything.

Sincerely, Natalie