Some Sad News

While going about my normal early morning routine, my brother called to share some very sad news with me. A childhood friend of mine, Renee (Hall) Ramsey, was killed in a car wreck near Goodland, Kansas while on her way to vacation in Colorado with her family. She was driving, and her mother (Rachel) and sister-in-law (Leah) were passengers. Renee's father (John), big brother (Jay), and little sister (Britanie) were in the vehicle in front of them, and they saw everything happen in the rear view mirror. Britanie sent my brother an email with all of the details of the crash, along with updates. Apparently, Renee was trying to avoid hitting another car that was coming into her lane and she lost control of her SUV, sending it rolling into a grassy embankment. She suffered massive head injuries and died on scene. Her mother suffered multiple injuries--a broken arm, dislocated shoulder, 14-15 broken ribs, a collapsed lung, and bruising from head to toe to name a few. Her sister-in-law suffered from a damaged carotid artery, multiple fractures, dislocations, broken ribs, and lung damage. She is doing better than the mother, but still not great.
My family has known Renee's family for many years. When my brother and I began taking violin lessons, they were some of the first friends we made. In fact, both Josh and I played duets with Renee and Britanie--some even for competition. Renee and I lost touch after I got married and she moved to Omaha, Nebraska. I had often wondered where she was and what she has been doing. I feel so very sorry for her husband, Zack. He had to work, so he was at home when all of this happened.
I just want to ask for prayer for this family. The mother and sister-in-law are in a hospital in Denver, Colorado, so they are far away from home. I really don't know how everyone is coping with the loss of Renee on top of the massive amount of medical care that the other 2 women are receiving. One of the lines in the email that Britanie sent really stood out to me. As a mother, it completely breaks my heart. Here is what she wrote: "She (the mother) is in great pain, but today was able to talk to us for the first time since Saturday. Her few words have indicated that the greatest pain she is suffering is a broken heart, as she keeps whispering 'Renee' over and over and making crying noises. Her eyes are mostly swollen shut though, so her tear ducts are not functioning normally."
As I mourn the loss of a friend, I am reminded that it is very important to tell each and every person that is dear to my heart that I love them. So, to you all--my family and friends--I love you.