The sports section is usually looked at, to learn about how a particular team is doing, or what the free agency market looks like. Its usually loaded with a plethora of rumors, of trades that may occur, and the musings of pundits who are all knowing "experts of sports," that write down their opinions. Today's Washington Post was a somber one, and my heart just breaks looking at the picture of Khristin Kyllo. A beautiful young woman, who played softball at nearby Madison High School, was at Princeton fulfilling her dreams on the field and in academics. Khristin passed away yesterday, in her dorm room of a seizure. Eighteen years old. In the prime of her life. And now she is gone, with her parents, family, friends, classmates, and teammates mourning.
One particular comment stood out. One of her teammates, summed it up, by saying "She made me a better person, and pushed me in every way possible." This young lady had been suffering from seizures, that robbed her of short term memory, which made routine activities difficult. Yet she excelled on the field, and in the game of life. Even with the challenges that these seizures created, which was formidable, she was able to go to an Ivy League School. What a brave, courageous young woman, who influenced others in positive ways.
This is where legacy comes into play, and we should all pray for her loved ones, while remembering her for her successes on and off the field. I wish I could have met this young woman, who didn't know the concept of "giving up," but rather "fighting." That's what everyone needs to do, is "fight." We need to fight, push ourselves to our physical limits, to finding a cure for seizures. The Vanderbilt University Kennedy Center's work with seizures is the best chance, and while a lot of their focus in on Angelman Syndrome, their developments in this field, could help a lot of people with regards to this menace. Today is a time to reflect the sad passing of a young woman, who had the heart of a champion, and went to God far too early. Yet it should also be a "battle cry" of sorts, that's full of love and determination, to make sure something like this never, ever happens again.
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