To kick things off...

I knew I needed to keep on track with this blog... Sorry friends! Diane's back! I've had a pretty intense weekend which made me realized the qualitiesI have. To be honest, growing up with such trauma has an effect on. It can alter perception about one's self. I've always been extremely hard on myself and never giving myself enough credit. I'm done being extremely hard on myself.
I owe a huge thank you to everyone in the last 6 months of my life have helped me get to the place I am now. A special thank you is owed to my friend Laura. I remember when she first started a blog and she explained to me that she was going to be a writer. Well Laura, a Congratulates. You are an amazing writer. This piece proofs it. I love you lady..

A Brother's Love Lives Forever
By Laura Paine


It isn't very often that I find myself to be genuinely proud of someone. I've watched a number of people with great potential fail to recognize and exercise that potential. Often times, they have been people I dated, but in just as many cases they have been friends. Lately, I have been watching a good friend of mine make some really big changes in her life.

My friend Diane has had a really rough go at it. Without getting into details that are not immediately available to the public, I will simply talk about one of the things in her life that she has been working hard to move forward from.

When she was ten years old she lost her oldest brother, Robert, in a car accident. Three months later, her brother Joseph committed suicide. She felt ashamed that her brother felt he couldn't continue living with Robert and it is something that her and her family have had to live with and work through for the last thirteen years. Ever since I first met Diane, this has been an issue that was still having a major impact on her life, because in a way, she never really dealt with it. She was too young to fully understand when it happened, but old enough to know that her life would never be the same.

A few months ago she asked me to write a press release for her because she was going to be taking part in the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Out of the Darkness walk. She told me that she couldn't let this hurt her anymore.

"This is what I am doing for myself and my family to move forward. This organization is helping change the preconceived notions of suicide -- that it shouldn't be viewed as a negative, but to change the ideas and embrace the lives of those lost,” she said. “I understand there are a tremendous amount of causes in the world to help out people here and there, but this cause is about life, the very foundation which we need to build and help out one another every day. By supporting this cause it could make a difference of a sister getting the pleasure of watching an older brother scare off a boyfriend or a date to the prom.”

I have seen Diane in some of her worst states and I am so grateful to say that I have seen her in some of her best. She has raised more than $2,500 for her team, A Brother's Love Lives Forever, and has taken some serious strides in helping herself move forward from the psychological and emotional issues it has caused. I have had the pleasure of seeing her discover new loves in life, like working for non-profit organizations and I have had the chance to listen to her tell me about how she finally feels beautiful. I've had the honor of reading and editing her college essay so she continue her education to become the kind of successful woman she has always wanted to be.

The reason I am writing this is because today, Diane sent me a text message saying that she is going to her first survivors meeting. No matter how many times I say it to her, I do not think it is enough. So here it is, for everyone to see.

Diane, I am so incredibly proud of you. Watching you take control of your life and helping you in anyway I can has been such an amazing inspiration. It is not every day that I see people who have experienced extreme grief, loss or hardship overcome the sadness and struggle to really make their lives what they want. It is hard to take ownership of things that have happened to you, that are outside of your control, but you have done it.

I'm so excited to continue helping you through in any way that I can and I look forward to sharing many more bonfires and bottles of wine with you. I'm glad that, despite our rough patches, we have remained friends. I am always comforted by the fact that if I need support, I know I can lean and cry on your shoulder.

You're an amazing, inspiring young woman. You have all of my love and support.

To anyone reading this, if you feel compelled, please donate money to A Brother's Love Lives Forever by clicking here.