Huffington Magazine Issue 12-13 | Page 94

Exit duced to the sage advice of the Queen of the Frogs from within the pages of her diary. Now 18, the Rochester, Michigan resident is the author of the children’s book Be Happy, the same story Megan wrote when she was thirteen-years-old and dealing with the aftermath of her father’s death in a plane crash on New Year’s Eve, 2006. The story is about two frog princesses who fear forgetting their father, the Frog King. Their mother assuages their worry with the guidance that as long as they keep him in their memory, he will never be forgotten. “It’s a question and answer type of book to explain that you’re not going to forget your parent if you think about them every day,” says Megan. “And that you’re going to go on and have a successful life, do everything and accomplish your dreams.” WENDY GEORGE MORE THAN JUST A STORYBOOK Propelled by the reality of life without her father, Megan understands what losing a parent could entail for other children. She is thankful her family’s living situation stayed relatively normal and that they were able to keep their GREATEST PERSON OF THE WEEK house, but Megan also knows that some children are not so fortunate. So when she saw an article about a foundation that aids children who have lost one or both of their parents, Megan realized the wise Frog Queen’s advice could be of service. “Unfortunately, I hear so many stories about children who have lost their parents and are put in a tight financial situation while dealing with the grief,” she says. “I realize I see a position to also give back and help others who have gone through similar experiences.” Megan approached Yatooma’s Foundation for the Kids with her HUFFINGTON 09.09.12 Megan’s book, Be Happy, was published by Momentum Books in November 2011.