On January, 16 2025, my parents were stopped in traffic in Mt. Vernon, IL when a semi-truck failed to apply its brakes and rear-ended them at a considerable speed. My father died instantly, and my mother was airlifted to a hospital where my brothers were able to speak with her before she suffered a heart attack and was taken to the OR. She did not survive.
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I had just landed in Tampa and was out to lunch with my father's brother when we got the call. We were all on our way to Florida because my grandmother had passed just one month prior, and my dad was the executor, heading home for a weeks-long trip to help settle her affairs.
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I am very open about this tragedy. I would rather talk about it than leave people to snoop around poorly written legal blogs and sensationalist Facebook posts. More than anything, I want everyone in the world to know how amazing they were.
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​I also wanted to share this because work-life balance is now more important to me than ever. I was extremely fortunate to be working at an institution and among scholars who value this too, as I am now the executor for two estates. My parents left no will, so I am also grateful for the research and organization skills I've acquired over the years, because my brothers, uncle, and I are facing quite a legal feat to overcome. It's simultaneously the most morbid research project and depressing scavenger hunt. Yet, it makes those "Aha!" moments all the more meaningful.
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In the accident, my mother's dog was miraculously thrust into the front seat and then bit the firefighter who pulled them out. That dog is now snoozing silently at my feet as I write this. When I share our story, I have only been greeted with empathy and kindness from those who hear it. However, I'm well aware that there will come a day (or many) when the emotional and logistical shock has long subsided, and my 'rough day' is of little importance to those who I encounter. I hope those people are patient. You never know what people are dealing with, and more importantly, you never know what life is going to hand you tomorrow. Also, if you're reading this, please make sure you have a will.
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Above everything, I am the most lucky to have been raised by these wonderful, loving, and talented people. I hope wherever I go from here makes them proud.
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