Meredith Nicole
I chose to use the word strength for Meredith because I believe she embodies the meaning of the word. Imagine your worst case scenario.....then imagine living your worst case scenario at the age of 15. I share Meredith's story not to exploit her, or gain pity for her , but because I am so proud of what she has done to overcome such a tragedy at such a young age.....
Prior to Worst Case Scenario
I was walking in to Wal Mart with my husband discussing which size bag of dog food we should buy when my phone rings. It's my dad so I answer "Hey Pops!" and I cannot tell you exactly how he told me, but I remember his voice cracking (which stings my heart even thinking about it) and telling me that my fifteen year old sister, Meredith, was pregnant. I could not control myself, I just started crying....in the middle of Wal Mart...so I went to the car. I understand it's not unusual for teen pregnancy these days. There are plenty of TV shows out there "glorifying" it on a daily basis. I was scared for my sister....just for the harder path she was taking..being a mom so young...and needing her education. Yes I was also mad at her boyfriend Collin but it takes two to tango, so the blame was not all his. Collin was Meredith's first serious boyfriend. She was head over heels in love....that moody teenage "my life is nothing without my boyfriend" phase. Been there before, we all go through it....I think. So, here she was with the love her life, and pregnant at 15.
Meredith's Worst Case Scenario
Please excuse the detail in my explanation as to how this day went.... It was 6th period...I could hear my phone vibrating in my bag several times when I realize I have missed calls from an 855 phone number and my Uncle Michael. I was so scared because my father is a prison guard and the main number has an 855 prefix, so I thought something had happened to him at work. I called my Uncle back and he answered the phone and told me something that put the delicate nature of life right in my face. Collin, Meredith's boyfriend, had been killed in a car accident. This huge amount of disbelief just sat there...I have lost people in life before, but none so unexpectedly. I kept thinking...maybe there's a mistake...there just has to be. But it was not a mistake. Collin was on his way back from another school campus when he was struck from behind by another car with so much force, that he and the car in front of him were pushed into the intersection. The car in front of Collins went across to my understanding...and his was in the middle of the intersection and was hit...I believe my sister told me by a semi-truck. Just makes you sick doesn't it? What breaks my heart even more is...as this was going on...my sister was waiting for him in a parenting class at school. She was waiting for him.....I repeat that in my head a lot because how devastating is it to wait for someone you love, only to find out you will have to wait much longer than you intended.
The Funeral
You wanna talk about hard.....this was brutal. All I wanted, was to be there for my sister but I felt like I couldn't really do anything....What could I say or do? Listening to his mother cry....there are no words to explain the heart break and agony. I remember looking at his sister at the grave side. They were very close....like me and my brother. I can't imagine the hurt she felt and still feels because I know losing my brother is incomprehensible....I don't know how I would survive it. Meredith sat there quietly...staring. She still managed to smile a couple times though. That's what I mean about strength....she's got it. Meredith is soft spoken with a sweet demeanor....don't get me wrong she can be a firecracker when she wants to be, but she is a very sweet girl.
Life Now
In four days...it will be the one year anniversary since Collin died. There are so many regrets I have....like only meeting him once. I hate that he could not be at our wedding with Meredith....I hate that Hayden will not know him...but I do find comfort knowing they will meet in Heaven. I don't know if Meredith and Collin would have stayed together forever....but what I do know, is that Collin was the love of her life at the time she lost him....and that is very hard to overcome... especially so young.She still very much misses and loves Collin. I am so proud of her for choosing to keep going in life. It is easy to take the other road and choose self pity the rest of her life but instead, she has an extremely giving heart. She has started her first job and of course I get a text from her saying she cannot wait to get us a Christmas present. I know she gets tired....and having a baby is hard...but she is still going strong. I love my sister....I love Hayden and I hope that their story is inspiring to others. This is not a story of pity this is a story of picking yourself up and pushing yourself through life. I can only hope if I am ever faced with such an awful situation in life....that I am as strong as Meredith. I am also thankful for how wonderful Collin's family has been to Meredith and Hayden. God is good....Hayden's picture below is proof enough for me =)
