11/03/2024
Yesterday marked 14 years since I lost my brother, Ethan.
14 years since I’ve been able to see him, hear him, hug him.
It’s been 14 years since I got the call from my mom to come to the hospital. That there was an accident. 14 years since the police officer walked over to my family and I to tell us a drunk driver hit my brother. The doctors telling us he had to be medevaced to another hospital. Arriving to that hospital and being told he wasn’t going to survive. 14 years since my 20 year old brother lost his life and became an organ donor.
14 years seems like so much time yet so little. At times I forget what he talked like, acted like, and other days, it all seems so clear.
I can tell you who my brother was though. A young man at the age of 20 about to start his life. He was auditioning to Berkeley to pursue his passion for drums and music. He was an artist. A peacemaker. A lover of reading, writing, and animals. He was a son, brother, grandson, nephew, and had the biggest group of friends.
He was the kid that had it all figured out at a young age. He knew what was truly important in life and he lived his life to the fullest. He was kind and gentle and would literally give you his last dollar. The world could use more Ethan’s and I’m so blessed to be able to call him my brother.
So, in honor of him, I share some of his art work. He was young when he drew these pictures, between the ages of 10-15. Ever since he was little he was always drawing and it was something I always admired about him.
Today, I encourage you to love hard, to smile at a stranger, maybe give someone a call you haven’t spoken to in a while, forgive, hug your friends and family, and to maybe, in Ethan’s memory, get a little creative ✌🏼💚💙🎨🎼
