When our 10 year old daughter died, our only other child, Logan, came to us with all of his saved money, and wanted to give it to us to help with his sister's funeral. We reassured him that his sister would appreciate his gesture, but we could not accept. He was attempting to honor her in some way, and offered to do so in the only way he could conceive of at that time.

We suggested that if he wanted to write something about his sister to be handed out at the service, that that would be a good way of honoring her, and telling others about her.

What follows is not a prize-winning poem, but the heartfelt thoughts of a 14 year old boy on the life that his sister lead ... of how the people around her shaped her world - both good and bad. In here, he alludes to Meica not being allowed to go to school. This was a reference to segregating persons with disabilities, something that we were being forced into doing by the local school district.

We still don't treat people with disabilities very well. His poem says it all. ...

THE LITTLE ENGINE THAT COULD

Meica was a very special person,
She worked hard to make sure she didn't worsen.
Meica's eyes were the nicest colour of brown,
They had the power to wipe off anyone's frown.

Meica couldn't walk,
She couldn't even talk.
Meica could not run,
But she still had 10 years of fun.

Life just isn't fair,
But Meica didn't give a care.
People treated her like she was odd,
To us she was our little God.

Meica was always so happy,
If I was her I would feel crappy.
Many, many people loved her,
She knew this, I know that for sure.

I wish we could have switched lives for a day,
Then I would know what she always wanted to say.
She had one life to live,
And she gave it all that she could give.

I wish she could have gone to school,
I think not letting her go was very cruel.
It wasn't a fair fight,
Some people will do anything just to be right.

I guess it was her time,
Her life was robbed like some kind of crime.
I feel really sad,
I'm grateful she had a great mom and dad.

Meica, I'll love you forever.
Logan Bristol