To those who are lucky enough to know my sister Lindsey, you know the amazing person that she is. Every birthday that she has, I think about how lucky I am to have her as a part of my life for that past year.
A few years ago, I got to introduce Lindsey as she gave her senior speech at high school. At the high school she and I attended, every senior gives a short speech in front of the whole school about whatever they wished to share. I had asked her years before if I could introduce her. Below is what I said. It was so hard to limit myself to a 2 minute intro, when I could praise her for hours. But hopefully it leaves you with a glimpse of the inspirational and loving person that she is.
"I have so many things I want to tell you about the incredible person that Lindsey is. Due to time, I’ll leave you with just one example that, while brief, speaks volumes about her character.
I was away at college when I received a call from my mom letting me know that Lindsey had relapsed with leukemia. Moments after breaking the news to me, she offered to put Lindsey on the phone, and before I could protest, Lindsey was on there. At that moment, I wasn’t ready to talk to her. I was very emotional and I was afraid this would only make her more upset. I wanted to be the strong big sister, to be upbeat and tell Lindsey that everything was going to be alright. I will never get over how Lindsey greeted me on the phone that day with these words “Hey Babe, what’s up!” in the cheeriest voice you can imagine. She then proceeded to talk about how much fun we were going to have, having slumber parties in her hospital room. This, coming from a girl, who had just found out she had cancer, again, that she would have to drop out of school, again, go through years of chemo and lose her hair, again, and be lonely and isolated from family and friends, again. Yet, that day on the phone, she was the one who comforted me, who wanted to make sure I wasn’t too scared or upset. In my moment to be the big sister, she was the strong one.
Throughout Lindsey’s 7 years of being sick, she rarely cried, complained almost never, and not once questioned Why me? Instead of drowning in self-pity, she chose to serve others. She is one of the most thoughtful and unselfish people I know. Throughout everything, she showed complete trust in God and whatever path he had for her.
Although Lindsey is my little sister, I look up to her as a role model. At age 17, she is already the kind of person that I will spend my whole life trying to become. It is an honor and a blessing to be her sister."
Happy Birthday Lindsey! It is a PRIVILEGE to be your sister! I love you!
