KEEPING ALIVE THE MEMORY OF A MAGICAL NINE-YEAR-OLD
Riley Hannah Sandler has been described as “magical,” “extraordinary,” “caring,” “vibrant” and “beautiful inside and out.” She captured the hearts of all who knew her. She loved school and both her peers and her teachers loved her. This summer she attended sleep away camp for the first time, having a wonderful time and endearing herself to campers and staff alike. On her last night of camp, she suffered respiratory arrest. She was nine-years-old. She leaves behind her parents, Ian and Mackenzie, her brother, Brody, and her grandparents, Nina Sandler and Terry and Lonnie Kaplan. Her other grandfather, Julian Sandler, died in 2009.
All losses are painful and challenging. But the sudden and tragic death of a child is excruciatingly incomprehensible, heart wrenching and life altering. Is there a way to go on living after such a loss? In The Living Memories Project: Legacies That Last, Sherri Mandell, whose 13-year-old son Koby was murdered by terrorists in Israel, says that grief is power that has to be harnessed. Following Koby’s murder, she and her husband, Seth, created camps and programs for bereaved children and families.
“You always carry the pain with you; it’s always going to be there,” she says. “Grief is energy and power and you have to harness it. If you don’t do something, it will destroy you. You have to find something within the love you have for a person to continue. …And you take that love and use it to create something….”
Riley was an awesome girl, and her accomplished and talented parents, Ian and Mackenzie, have moved with lightening speed to harness their grief and ensure that their beloved daughter will be honored and remembered. Within days of her death, they established The Riley Sandler Memorial Foundation to promote and support the health and welfare of children, and to support charitable organizations that assist children in need. What an appropriate tribute and a beautiful way to keep Riley’s memory alive! And in their family tradition of generosity, they are working to transform their grief into an enduring legacy for Riley that truly reflects their values and passions.
In just a few days, the Riley Sandler Memorial Foundation has gained 1,000 supporters. Click the link to learn more: http://www.youcaring.com/memorial-fundraiser/the-riley-sandler-memorial-foundation-inc/221100
May Ian, Mackenzie, Brody, and the family always find comfort in living and loving memories of Riley. And may the work of the Riley Sandler Memorial Foundation bring honor and glory to Riley’s name. May her memory always be a blessing.
