I RECIEVED THE WORST PHONE CALL ON MARCH 31,1999, AT 9;30 PM . MY BROTHER IN-LAW CALLED ME TO TELL ME TO GET TO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL QUICKLY, THAT ERIC WAS BEING LIFE FLIGHTED TO THE HOSPITAL.

HE HAD BEEN STRUCK BY A CAR, AND AT THAT MOMENT, MY LIFE CHANGED FOREVER. I DID NOT KNOW AT THAT TIME, THAT I WOULD NOT HEAR HIS SWEET VOICE TELLING ME HE LOVED ME, NOR THAT WE WOULDN'T HAVE THE CHANCE TO SAY GOODBYE.

I ARRIVED AT THE HOSPITAL BEFORE MY SISTER AND THE HELICOPTER.

ERIC WAS IN A COMA , AND WE STAYED BY HIS BEDSIDE TALKING TO HIM, TOUCHING HIM, AND BEGGING HIM TO WAKE UP.

THIS DEVISTATION LASTED THROUGH THE NIGHT, WHEN ON APRIL 1,1999 AT AROUND 2:30 IN THE AFTERNOON, GOD TOOK OUR ANGEL HOME.

THE NEWS CAME WITH A BLOW....SHATTERED OUR HOPES .... AND CHANGED ALL OF OUR LIVES FOREVER.

ERIC WAS SO FULL OF LIFE, AND AMBITIOUS .

HE WAS ALWAYS UP FOR A CHALLENGE.

I'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF A CHILD LIKE THIS , AND FOR IT IT BE MY NEPHEW , IT REALLY ALTERED MY LIFE.

I AM SO OVERPROTECTIVEOF MY 12 ,10, AND 5 YEAR OLD WITH THE FEAR THAT THEY TOO WILL BE TAKEN FROM ME SO SOON IN LIFE.

HE WAS NOT WEARING A SAFTEY HELMET. PARENTS PLEASE HAVE YOUR CHILD WEAR A HELMET. ALL IT TOOK FOR MY NEPHEW WAS A 1- INCH LONG CUT IN THE BACK OF HIS NECK AND IT WAS ENOUGH TO DAMAGE HIS BRAIN STEM.

ERIC.... I WILL FOREVER MISS YOU, AND I DONT THINK I'LL EVER GET OVER LOSING YOU , THIS GRIEF WILL REMAIN FOREVER .BUT KNOWING IN MY HEART ,THAT GOD IS TAKING CARE OF YOU NOW, OUR LITTLE ANGEL ..HELPS TO SUBSIDE THE NUMBNESS AND PUTS A WARM FEELING IN ITS PLACE.

I WILL CONTINUE TO TALK TO YOU THROUGH MY PRAYERS TO HELP ME SUBSIDE UNTIL THE DAY WHEN I CAN SEE YOU AGAIN WHEN GOD BRINGS ME HOME AS WELL.

UNTIL THEN, YOU WILL ALWAYS BE WITH ME AND THE REST OF YOUR LOVED ONES.