With all my heart...for my sister Erika!

My sister Erika- 1986

My sister Erika died 14 years ago...she was 20 years old and full of life and love...she was the sweetest and purest being I've ever met and she will always be alive in my heart...
Erika had mental retardation; she was seemingly "normal" when she was born, but my mom later noticed seizures and other issues stemming from untreated hypoglycemia at the time of birth... Even though we always wondered what would have been of her life if she had indeed been treated in time, I am sure that God had a plan for her and that's why He made her the way she was...
Erika had a very happy life.. within her limitations she always knew how to make it work, always with a smile on her face, spreading her love and joy to everyone around her..she was truly an angel that touched our lives in more ways than one... We were always very close when growing up and she had an overabundance of love around her... Every family member, every friend, every person that ever met her just loved her and admired her for being who she was... She was gracious, loving, pure, angelic and every positive adjective that exists in the dictionary... Erika was unique and truly a gift from above... God let us have her and enjoy her for 20 years... I wish it would have been more..but I'm sure she's in a much better place now... along with the angels where she belongs...
The day she died (December 23rd, 1998), my whole world was shattered... a piece of my heart was ripped apart as I felt the deepest and most terrible pain I have ever experienced... I never thought the pain would end..but today, 14 years later, even though I'm not over it (I probably never will be), I have been able to turn that pain into the energy I need to keep her memory alive... Not a day goes by that I don't think of her...everything reminds of her...there's always a little thing every day that makes me think of her sweet smile and happy self... she is truly unforgettable....
Now I realize that we were blessed to have had Erika in our lives and her presence didn't go unnoticed...she wrote our story...she made our family...she taught us pure love and innocence and we will never forget her....
I love you, Erika... you're my angel sister and I thank God for you...for you life...for your love and for your endless memory!  I will forever miss you and make sure you're always a part of me!
Please know that I feel your presence... I feel your love...and I know that you're always by my side!