Once Taylor's friend Josie was out of ICU and in the rehab wing of the hospital, she asked for the name of the physical therapist with whom Taylor worked as Taylor was recovering from a torn ACL last summer. Taylor loved PT. So I was committed to finding the name. Surely, the contact information would be in Taylor's phone. It wasn't.
I was sure I had received a condolence card from the PT. I couldn't look through all of them. It was too painful. Nevertheless, I was certain I had seen a card.
We had gone to Norman the day after sister's funeral to pack up her room. We didn't think or talk; we just packed. By the time Josie asked about PT, I had been through almost every box from the rental house she and Josie shared this summer in Norman. I was searching my mind for where that PT info could be and beating myself up for being the rotten mom who didn't just know! I mean she only attended PT for four months! Then I remembered one box of paper that I had not sorted. So I climbed the stairs, entered her room and systematically emptied the box. I found a Theta notebook, an OU notebook about enrollment, paperwork about studying abroad. I remembered why I hadn't sorted through this box. It contained so much of her future. However, I also remembered that I packed this box. It contained the items from her desk. Her desk drawer had birthday cards in it (mind you her birthday is in November and it's July- she is my daughter on some days :)). As I get to the bottom of the box, I find a card from Liz, her PT. In the card is the website for the office, a sweet note, and Liz's personal cell number.
"Thank you, Jesus! For letting me take care of Josie!" I quickly look up the website, find the office number and text the info to Josie and Kimberly. I also called Liz, the PT, and left a message asking her to look for Josie and thanking her for serving my girl. I think that's my story. It gets better...
Two days later, Liz returns my call, tells me how special Taylor is and says she's looking out for Josie's (aka Duchess) appointment. Awesome!
But there's more. Liz asks if she can tell me one more story.
"Sure."
Liz goes on to relate that when she was 18 or 19 she was in a serious car wreck. She was critically injured and her best friend was killed. So she feels like she going to be able to take care of Josie's legs and her heart.
I just remember thinking, "This is my text message from heaven."
"I'm home and just like always -I've got this, Mom."
Josie is Taylor's "little" in the Theta house at OU. She gets her own "little" tonight. Here's hoping her little makes her as happy as Duchess (everyone has a nickname at our house) made Taylor.
We miss her so.
— with Taylor Witcher and Josie Smith.