Paula's mom wrote a beautiful letter in honour of Paula over Christmas that was published today in the Ottawa Citizen.
Traffic tragedy led to gift of life for six people
I am writing because I owe it to my dear daughter Paula Brouwer (Sharpe), who lost her life last spring after her car was rear-ended by a dump truck in Ottawa. And I want people who knew her to know that six others were given the gifts of life with her organ donations.
We had travelled to your city from British Columbia to spend the summer and celebrate many special events with Paula, our son-in-law, their 10-month old baby boy, and our son who lives in Toronto. On that tragic day, she was driving to have lunch her dad and me. With the baby in his car seat, her car was stopped, with the signal light on, to make a left turn off Prince of Wales Drive into the recreational vehicle park where our trailer was parked. As she waited to turn, a dump truck smashed into the back of her car.
Her dad was outside of our trailer waiting for her to arrive with our grandson. He heard the very loud bang but thought it was construction until he heard the sirens coming and stopping. He ran down to the corner praying it wasn't her car. Our grandson had some injuries and was treated in CHEO for a few days. Paula had severe injuries and died the following day at the Civic campus of the Ottawa Hospital.
She was only 31 years old.
She was a graduate of the University of British Columbia and had received many scholarships including one at the National Research Council in Ottawa. She played rugby for the Ottawa Indians Rugby Club for several years, most recently worked as a social worker with the Canadian Mental Health Association, and was involved in leadership at St. George's Anglican Church. She was loved by everyone who came in contact with her.
She donated all her organs which went to six different persons. Those who knew Paula and her generous spirit would know that providing others with another chance at a full life is exactly what she would have wanted. Whomever received Paula's heart is without doubt the luckiest person in the world. Life will never be the same for her family without our loving, caring Paula. I want her to be remembered by everyone in Ottawa, the city she loved and made her home in.
JUNE SHARPE, Port Coquitlam, B.C.
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5 comments:
June,
as a mother of a 25 year old I can not immage what you are going through. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your husband as well as your son.
"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
Revelation 21:4
So beautiful. So true. Paula would be so pleased.
I have followed this blog from the beginning. I, like everyone who has ever had the priviledge of knowing or just meeting her will never forget her beautiful smile. What's more, is that she was a person whose spirit, passion and zest for life was fiercely evident through that beautiful smile. (Not to mention her genuine personality and love of people!!) What a wonderful thought to know that that wonderful person will live on through others, and has helped them just like she would have wanted to.
Again, Darren, Micah, her parents and brother...as a mother, daughter, sister and friend myself...my (our) thoughts are all with you. I'm thankful to have known her. Thank you all for sharing your journey of strength and love. Know that there are so many people who hope and pray for you all everyday.
I would like to thank all the people who have responded to my letter in honour of my dear daughter Paula,and for all the prayers which have been heard,as we have only seen one set of foot prints in the sand,since that awful day in May, that changed our lives forever.We Thank the Lord everyday for saving our lovely little grandson,Micah.May God Bless you all.from,June
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