Amanda K. Hollowell

Amanda K. Hollowell

We all know that when a baby is born, it's called a miracle. Well this miracle was born December 13, 1987. Her name was Amanda K. Hollowell, and she wasn’t just an ordinary girl. She lived in Fort Collins, Colorado. Her family had a bad history of cancer, and she was one of those family members. Amanda had two different types of cancer: Osteosarcoma and Leukemia. But with God’s blessing, it wasn’t the end of the road for her yet. She wasn’t ready to give up.

Amanda was only 12 years old when she found out she had cancer. Could you imagine how hard it must have been for her? No matter what, Amanda and her family were helping in any way possible. They couldn’t let their baby go. After three years of stress and worries, Amanda was the first in her family to defeat any type of cancer.

Then two years after that, it was back. The words everyone dreaded. Tears flowed and hope was badly needed. The only weird thing was, Amanda wasn’t crying or scared. She said, “Whatever happens, happens, and it will happen for a reason.” So the family prayed for her everyday. The thought of her not being here overwhelmed people.

To the family, she was the world, but they all knew that other people needed her, too. Not just them. What upset them the most was if she didn’t make it. She wouldn’t finish her last year of high school. She wouldn’t even graduate with her class. There would be no college, no family, no job, nothing. It was all just too much for them.

Days passed and she was getting weaker. Her mom told the rest of the family. They all knew they had to say good-bye, but how could they do that? They still weren’t ready to let her go. Her uncle told her, “No matter what happens, don’t you ever forget that we love you with all our hearts. You are what made this family, a family.” She began to cry. Now it was all she could do, not to say good-bye. Then the rest of the family said good-bye. All the family did except two people, my mom and I. We missed our turn, and I couldn’t just tell my cousin good-bye.

The tragedy struck on November 13, 2006, exactly one month before her 18th birthday. Maggie remembered what Amanda said: “Although I’m gone, it’s not forever. Although you can’t see me, just remember. I lay in your heart and we will never be apart.” Then the whole family cried. How could the family give up on something not even the world couldn’t hold?

Amanda made our family who they are today. Although she is gone, she still has a big impact on our family. We always look to her for advice. She may not always help us, but she is always watching over us. She changed our family. We were a family who hated one another, but then Amanda stepped in and said, “We are a family, and we need each other. So let's start acting like a family.”

In conclusion, Amanda will never be forgotten and she has had a big impact on this family. We will never forget her. No matter what happens, she will always be the shining star of the family. Her smile and wisdom are still in our hearts.