November 2, 1998 was a blessing to my brother, his family and to me. That’s the day my beautiful niece Chase was born. When I say beautiful, I’m not just being biased….truly I’ve never seen a more beautiful baby. She could do Gerber commercials! The bluest eyes you have ever seen…and that CHIN! Yes, she had the Wise chin too. That really made me happy. But my happiness made a complete u-turn about a month after she was born. On December 8th I lost my husband in a tragic plane crash. I was devastated. It was such a difficult time those months and years following the accident. But my sister-in-law knew the joy and the peace that would come over me when I held her new baby. So, that became my focus.
Chase was the child I never got to have. I remember when she was just a few months old and they brought her over to my house to swim. That teeny tiny swimsuit with bright pink flowers and the ruffles on her butt were just darling. What a fun day that was. Swimming and playing in the pool. But when we were done and her mom changed Chase into dry clothes she accidentally left her swimsuit at my house. So like a good Tia, I washed it and hung it to dry in my laundry room where it stayed for the next 15 ½ years.
Tragedy, Love &
Triumph...
Lessons From A Child
by Susan Wise