My Sister's Death, 2001, by Teresa Sutter

From MemoryArchive

Who: Teresa Sutter
What: My sister's death
Where: Ann Arbor

Stephanie Rose Sutter was born on April 23rd, 1991. She was two years younger than I am. Whenever you were feeling blue she would hug you until you were feeling better and smiling. She had a hug for everyone. She, too, loved animals and would try to comfert them when they were hurt or dying. I remember one time, at my grandparents' farm, there was a calf sitting outside the barn, so when I asked my father what had happened to her he said that her leg was broken and that she was probably going to die.

So Stephanie went inside the house, grabbed a bunch of coats, went back outside to the calf, wrapped her up in the coats and laid down next to her. I thought that that was the cutest thing I ever saw. I think she died sometime in September, near the 11th I think, in the year 2001. She was going on the last heart surgery ever. She had about six other surgeries ever since she was born, I can’t remember what the scientific name of her problem was, but it was pretty big.

The hospital she was going to was in Ann Arbor, Michigan. My mom and dad took her, it took about 7 or 8 hours to get there. My grandmother stayed with me, my brother, and my other younger sister until they came back. The day Stephanie died started out like any other day: getting up, dressed, eat some cereal, brush my teeth, and headed out the door for the bus. When I got to school it went like any school day.

After school I usually went to hang out at the Youth Center in my town of Mount Horeb. My grandmother picked me up at the Y.C. She told me that my other grandparents were coming to tell us something, I really didn’t think of it at the time, but she looked really sad. So when we got home I started on my homework. Then my grandparents came over and said “Stephanie died yesterday”. I was like yeah, right, whatever. When I looked up at my grandfather he was crying.

I have never, ever seen my grandfather cry. That was when I knew that they were telling the truth. I mean I thought my grandfather was this big, tough guy who didn’t show any sign of weakness. Stephanie and I shared a bedroom together and every once in a while I feel like she is right there with me when I sleep.