"Danny’s Legacy,"
By Sarah Gniazdowski
On August 16, 2005, my beautiful little brother, Danny, was given his angel wings. In a matter of seconds, I went from nine to nineteen. I was forced to accept a very harsh reality and because of this truth, I grew up. On that day, I vowed to myself to live a life in honor of the life my brother did not have the chance to finish and to carry on his legacy. For the past ten years, I have attempted to accomplish this undertaking. Little did I know, I did not have to accept the duty of carrying on Danny’s legacy, for he, himself, carries it on daily.
On August 21, 2015, I was visiting my friends at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio for a few days before I embarked on a four month study abroad adventure to Luxembourg. I would be celebrating my 20th birthday while in Luxembourg, so my friends threw me a birthday and going-away party. As a large group of my most beloved friends gathered at La Piñata for a “family dinner,” I had no idea what was about to ensue in the coming minutes.
My best friend of four years, Emily, sat across from me. After everyone ordered their food, my friends insisted on giving gifts. Emily proceeded to pull out a book from her purse. At first glance, the book was a very nice gesture and Emily had beautifully decorated the front saying, “Happy 20th.” The first page of the book was a heartfelt note written by Emily. My friends were all distracting me with their excitement for me to continue reading, however, this significantly slowed down my reading capabilities. Once I finally reached the bottom of the page, Emily’s note read,
There is one person who could not be here with us to celebrate with you today…
Initially, my thoughts drifted to one of our friends, Bobby, who had been on a three-week active duty and was unable to attend dinner. However, when I turned the page, I saw a picture of my favorite chubby-cheeked, brown-eyed little boy smiling back at me. Instantly, I closed the book and burst into tears. How was I supposed to continue? Not having Danny at significant life events has always been a hard pill to swallow for my parents and for me. After a few minutes of urging, my friends convinced me to continue reading. The next page read,
In honor of you,
In honor of Danny,
In honor of your family…
Followed by,
We have collectively donated $1,445 to The MPS Society.
Once again, the tears streamed down my face. In the middle of a restaurant in Oxford, Ohio, I cried. I cried for the generosity my friends exhibited, for the overwhelming sense of love I felt, and for the heartache of losing my brother. However, in this moment, I realized that Danny’s legacy was never mine to carry on.
From somewhere over the rainbow, Danny continues to change lives. Sure, I do my part in spreading awareness and telling Danny’s story, but it is Danny’s impact on others and on me that inspires people, like my friends, to act selflessly and to do their part in finding a cure for MPS.
From this story, I hope that you realize the impact that one person can have on the world, even after they are no longer physically present. For those of you who have lost a loved one to a disorder, a disease, or any other type of tragedy, I hope that you realize the importance of telling your loved one’s story. You are their voice. Let their story ring through the ears of many and touch the hearts of all.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU to all of my amazing friends who so selflessly gave me and my family the best gift anyone could ever give. No words could ever describe the amount of love I have for all of you. Please know that just as Danny watches over me: he, too, watches over all of you.
By Sarah Gniazdowski
On August 16, 2005, my beautiful little brother, Danny, was given his angel wings. In a matter of seconds, I went from nine to nineteen. I was forced to accept a very harsh reality and because of this truth, I grew up. On that day, I vowed to myself to live a life in honor of the life my brother did not have the chance to finish and to carry on his legacy. For the past ten years, I have attempted to accomplish this undertaking. Little did I know, I did not have to accept the duty of carrying on Danny’s legacy, for he, himself, carries it on daily.
On August 21, 2015, I was visiting my friends at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio for a few days before I embarked on a four month study abroad adventure to Luxembourg. I would be celebrating my 20th birthday while in Luxembourg, so my friends threw me a birthday and going-away party. As a large group of my most beloved friends gathered at La Piñata for a “family dinner,” I had no idea what was about to ensue in the coming minutes.
My best friend of four years, Emily, sat across from me. After everyone ordered their food, my friends insisted on giving gifts. Emily proceeded to pull out a book from her purse. At first glance, the book was a very nice gesture and Emily had beautifully decorated the front saying, “Happy 20th.” The first page of the book was a heartfelt note written by Emily. My friends were all distracting me with their excitement for me to continue reading, however, this significantly slowed down my reading capabilities. Once I finally reached the bottom of the page, Emily’s note read,
There is one person who could not be here with us to celebrate with you today…
Initially, my thoughts drifted to one of our friends, Bobby, who had been on a three-week active duty and was unable to attend dinner. However, when I turned the page, I saw a picture of my favorite chubby-cheeked, brown-eyed little boy smiling back at me. Instantly, I closed the book and burst into tears. How was I supposed to continue? Not having Danny at significant life events has always been a hard pill to swallow for my parents and for me. After a few minutes of urging, my friends convinced me to continue reading. The next page read,
In honor of you,
In honor of Danny,
In honor of your family…
Followed by,
We have collectively donated $1,445 to The MPS Society.
Once again, the tears streamed down my face. In the middle of a restaurant in Oxford, Ohio, I cried. I cried for the generosity my friends exhibited, for the overwhelming sense of love I felt, and for the heartache of losing my brother. However, in this moment, I realized that Danny’s legacy was never mine to carry on.
From somewhere over the rainbow, Danny continues to change lives. Sure, I do my part in spreading awareness and telling Danny’s story, but it is Danny’s impact on others and on me that inspires people, like my friends, to act selflessly and to do their part in finding a cure for MPS.
From this story, I hope that you realize the impact that one person can have on the world, even after they are no longer physically present. For those of you who have lost a loved one to a disorder, a disease, or any other type of tragedy, I hope that you realize the importance of telling your loved one’s story. You are their voice. Let their story ring through the ears of many and touch the hearts of all.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU to all of my amazing friends who so selflessly gave me and my family the best gift anyone could ever give. No words could ever describe the amount of love I have for all of you. Please know that just as Danny watches over me: he, too, watches over all of you.
Siblings with a Mission is a non-profit, international organization established to serve and support siblings of individuals with special needs. All images are found on Google images and are solely used for educational purposes. The stories and advice provided by Siblings with a Mission are not to be replaced by professional advice and counseling but to be considered as an additional source of support.
