It was August 15, 2014, the Friday before school started. I was currently serving as the principal of Manvel High School in Alvin ISD, a small school district just south of Houston. I was working to prepare for teachers to return to school that next Monday. My husband and son Larry had decided to take a “boys trip” to see Grandma. I had talked to them earlier that day. They asked me if I wanted to go and I declined, believing I had too much work to prepare for the start of school. Looking back I distinctly remember thinking, “my whole life is in that plane”. I had that thought often, as they loved to fly and this was regular practice. About 4 pm that day, I received a call that would forever change my life. My mother-in-law was on the other end, “Charlotte, the plane has gone down”!
What happened next, I vaguely remember. All of the sudden there was this noise; I couldn’t identify it at first. It was loud and overwhelming and I couldn’t breathe. It took a while before I recognized that awful shrill as my own cries. I fell to the floor as staff members ran trying to figure out what was happening. It wasn’t long before I lay surrounded by dear friends; the kind of friends you call family. I kept asking questions. I refused to believe it was possible. I started calling airports, other pilots, anyone that could verify that it just wasn’t true.
Not long after, I was loaded into a car and taken to my home. More and more people arrived. My phone was quickly taken away. Helicopters begin to circle the house and the news crews started swarming the yard. Not long after, I would receive a call from my 4 sisters and mom. I would sit surrounded by friends, with my family on speaker phone and listen as my dear friend Shawn would confirm my worst nightmare.
I don’t know how I survived those first two weeks. The weight on my chest was unbearable at times; I couldn’t breathe. There was a physical reaction to grief that was like nothing I had ever experienced. My skin peeled off, every muscle in my body ached and my skin was sensitive to touch. I couldn’t think. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t talk. I only knew how to cry….
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I can’t even begin to imagine the impact of this day. Your courage to go on, embrace the memories that bring joy with pain, and to share your story is inspiring. Prayers continue for you.
I will never forget this day for you and the day I lost my child . My heart broke for you. Pray was all I knew to do knowing gods love was what you would need to get you through. I knew you would never be the same .
Love you friend. I pray for you as well.
God bless you Charlotte!
On September 14, 2017, I received the call that my son had suffered a critical gunshot wound to the head and was being rushed to the emergency room. I was not near home and immediately turned for his home. He passed away the next day. My friends from AlvinISD have been an amazing support for me when all I could do was cry. The weight on my chest was replaced by a huge hole, I am sure everyone has to be able to see it .We wee and are blessed to be part of the amazing AISD family in our tragedies!
I pray for you often. My heart breaks for you and his wife and kids. Love and hugs. There are no words.
Man I truly know how you feel. And I’m so sorry for your loss. I hope only that time and Gods love have and will continue to heal you.