Exit
idea. She relates very much to the
experience of the founder, Norman Yatooma, as his own father
was killed trying to stop a car
jacking when Norman was 20.
Working together, they were able
to have the book finally published
by Momentum Books, a publishing house catered to local Michigan writers. All the proceeds go
to Yatooma’s foundation.
AN UNFORGETTABLE NIGHT
On New Year’s Eve 2006, Michael
D’Arcy crashed his plane two miles
from the Romeo Airport while piloting Megan’s sister, Katie, and
her friends back from their cottage in Sutton Bay. He died on impact, while Katie fractured “pretty
much every bone in her body.”
She was pronounced dead on the
scene but a moan alerted rescuers
that she was still alive, and Katie
was quickly taken to the hospital.
She’d miss a semester of school
and have to learn to walk again.
“Our relationship is stronger because now I think about what life
would be like without her and I’m
just thankful she’s here and that
she can walk again,” Megan says.
Megan’s mother, Kelly, took
upon the task of trying to make
sure Megan’s life retained some
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09.09.12
stability, which, given the circumstances, was a trying feat.
“My mom was definitely the
rock,” says Megan, recalling how
her mother hardly ever left the hospital after her sister was admitted.
Finally getting back to school
after the accident is an experience Megan described as “one
of the worst days of my life”
— walking through the hallway
amidst a torrent of whispers,
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.
I see a position to give back”
knowing that a barrage of journalists awaited her on her front
lawn when she got home.
In response to such pressure,
Megan hit the books.
SUCCESS IN THE MAKING
Megan, who graduated high school
last spring, is currently packing and
saying her goodbyes ahead of her
journey to Cambridge, MA, where
she will be attending Harvard University on a full scholarship.