My heart hurts for five families I don’t know.
The world is grieving the tragic loss of NBA star, Kobe Bryant. It is clear that fans adored him for more than just his talent, but his charm, personality, and generosity off the court. Time stopped at the news of Kobe’s death and a cloud of mourning came through. A helicopter crash makes stomachs churn, but a helicopter crash with a beloved public figure on board makes stomachs ache. The world has rallied around Vanessa, sending her love and prayers and sympathizing for her. Not forgotten are the other seven individuals who were killed in the crash along side Kobe and Gianna. Unfortunately, their stories seem to be pushed to the back burner, but are equally as important and heart wrenching. My heart hurts for each of the five families who are affected by the crash. To lose someone you love and care about shakes you to the core. You cry tears so big they fall fast down your face, your cries turn into silent sobs, and your sobs take all energy, strength, and breath away from your body. Routines are broken, life has stopped, and there is no sense of “normalcy”. Death is something we all believe we can outlive, but something we can never outsmart.
My heart hurts for five families I don’t know.
You know the nine names of the individuals who were killed in the January 26th helicopter crash. You’ve seen their pictures, read their stories, and maybe even shed a tear at the whole situation, but we can’t begin to comprehend the pain a family is going through.
Husband and wife, John and Keri Altobeli, and daughter Alyssa left behind daughter/sister Alexis (14) and son/brother JJ (30). I cannot even begin to fathom the pain that Alexis and JJ are feeling. I cringe at the thought of my mom leaving this world too soon and I can’t imagine life without both of my parents and my sister. JJ’s life has been changed, but Alexis’ world has been rocked. She is still so young and the people who surrounded her on a daily basis are no longer here. Life has been flipped upside down and my heart hurts for them.
Mom, Sarah Chester, and daughter Payton are survived by husband/dad Chris and two sons/brothers Hayden and Riley (both 16). I pray these men aren’t afraid to let their emotions out. I hope they don’t feel like they need to be strong or be the man of the house. Moms are the glue of the family and life without sisters is too quiet. The boys won’t have their mom to help them get ready for prom, watch them walk across the stage at graduation, or send them off to college. Life moving forward will not look the same as it did before. Eventually they will go back to school and find whatever energy they can to get through the day, but there will always be part of them missing. My heart hurts for them.
Christina Mauser is survived by her husband Matt and her three kids; Penny (11), Tom (9), Ivy (3). I wonder if Ivy comprehends what has happened? Is Tom mad or numb? Does Penny know how to handle her emotions? Mom’s know the answer to these questions, they know their kids inside and out. I pray Matt has found strength to comfort his kids while battling his own demons. Forever isn’t promised, but it’s never expected to be taken away so soon. My heart hurts for this breaking family.
Ara Zobayan doesn’t have any mention of close family members, but he was loved by his friends, neighbors, and colleagues. Ara has flown for years and years, but now his credentials and integrity are being called into play. Is there little mention of his family because reporters are more focused on the cause of the crash? Are they looking for someone to blame? My heart hurts for the family of Ara because even if they aren’t mentioned, they still lost someone they love.
Finally, father Kobe Bryant and daughter Gianna Bryant are survived by wife/mother Vanessa and daughters/sisters Natalie (17), Bianka (3), and Capri (7 months). To grieve is painful, but to grieve publicly with the whole world watching has to be impossible. The fans are waiting for a response while the reporters and press are on her sidewalk watching and waiting for an interview opportunity. The story seems to be bigger and more important than privacy and personal heartbreak. Friends of Kobe’s and role models will offer support and will always make the kids feel important and tell them how much their dad loved them, but that won’t take away the weight of the world on Vanessa’s shoulders. My heart hurts for Capri who will never know her dad, for Bianka who will only have limited memories of him, and Natalie who is about to enter adulthood.
My heart hurts for five families I don’t know. Life is short, days are numbered, and time is not guaranteed. We can’t live in fear of death every minute of everyday because that would not be a quality life worth living, but we can be thankful for the moments and the days that we do have.
Beauty From Ashes 