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  • Nov. 21, 2008 at 1:26pm

    i met Walter Crumpler and his wife Megan at our event in Charlottesville, Virginia last week. Walter shared that he had lost his sister Emily to suicide one year ago that night. He showed me a picture of the two of them together. There were tears in his eyes as he spoke of her life. He kept using the word "remember", that he wanted people to remember her, that he wanted people to know her story. He thanked us for the work we're doing with TWLOHA, this talking about things that people don't talk about, letting people know they're not alone.   

    Walter and Megan were married just a few weeks ago in Florida, a wedding on the sand at Clearwater Beach. At a typical wedding, the bride throws her bouquet of flowers and a single friend will catch it and everyone smiles at the possibility that this person might be next to marry. It's an easy moment and it points to the future. At Walter and Megan's wedding, Megan did not throw her flowers. She handed them to Walter's mother, in honor of Emily. She did this to remember, to say that someone was missing on this beautiful day, and perhaps also to say that as a family and as a community, they continue together. 

    Tomorrow is for everyone who's lost someone to suicide. It is a day to say that their life mattered and it is remembered, and perhaps it is a day to say that we continue together, learning life is better less alone. 

    Peace to you.
    jamie

    Posted in General by jamie tworkowski

Comments (15)

Wow, that is so inspirational. What an honor to Emily...
I haven't lost anyone to suicide before, but I've been close to loosing my best friend to it. We found this place together...Now she does better. =]
I'll pray for this family.

1 | Left by Katie | Nov. 21, 2008 at 7:07pm


wow, what an amazing story.
very inspiring!

2 | Left by Rachel | Nov. 21, 2008 at 7:48pm


wow...i cried reading this. i know what its like to lose people in this way, hell do i...i just want to thank twloha though, for helping me through. i survived and though at times i wish i didn't, i'm sure one day in the future i'll be able to look back on this moment in my life and realise how lucky i am to be alive.
my thoughts are with this family and to everyone else who has lost someone special
x x x x

3 | Left by Laura | Nov. 22, 2008 at 11:19am


Is there a specific day set to "write love on her arms"?

4 | Left by Sarah | Nov. 22, 2008 at 3:24pm


that is the perfect way to celebrate a beautiful union as well as remembering such an amazing person that was missing from their perfect day. I send my love out to them, and to everyone that shares the pain that they feel.

5 | Left by Trisha Shafer | Nov. 22, 2008 at 4:01pm


That's very inspriational. I lost my first love, two of my best friends, and almost myself to suicide. It's a horrible thing, god bless y'all. (:

6 | Left by Sidni | Nov. 22, 2008 at 7:31pm


Wow what an amazing story. I lost a cousin, who was my bestfriend 3 months ago to suicide and it is probable the toughest thing that I am dealing with now. Even though its been over 3 months it still feels like yesterday that I had recieved the worst phone call of my life. So this story hit very close to home. Thank you guys for sharing this, I needed to hear that.

7 | Left by Anya | Nov. 22, 2008 at 11:16pm


I lost a son. His life was precious as are all lives.
You are doing good work with an honest message. My son appreciated truth and loyalty.

How do I reach you to request a booking (there should be a
better word for this but I can't think of one right now) in South Carolina?

Helen
"Love never ends."

8 | Left by Helen | Nov. 23, 2008 at 6:30am


wow, that's amazing. I lost one of my best friends back home in Michigan, Kristina. I remembered her yesterday.
Everyone matters.
~Emily

9 | Left by Emily | Nov. 23, 2008 at 3:33pm


Hey. Wow that's really inspiring. Suicide has been in my life for years....my uncle & 4 of my friends. I don't know why but something's telling me to say this. "I don't think people realize just how selfish it is. Just when they take there lives they are also taking a part of everyone that loves them lives"

10 | Left by *~Megan~* | Nov. 25, 2008 at 7:04am


Wow...
That's all I can say, it is so moving to see what other will do for the broken. One of the reasons I love this orginization, it makes people realize how much they are truly missing. Keep up the good work. I'm going to put Emily on my arms..

11 | Left by ~ThoseNights | Nov. 26, 2008 at 12:57pm


yesterday a boy was at my school, today everyone found out he committed suicide the night before. i have never spoken to him a day in my life, but i still feel great effected by this. i have always supported TWLOHA but today gave it a much greater meaning.
rip emily.
rip tyler.

12 | Left by shelley | Nov. 26, 2008 at 5:13pm


Whoa..
I cried...i know what Walter is going through. I lost my god brother to suicide 2 years ago. Even though we never spent that much time together, i had a sense of guilt for his passing. I now know it wasn't my fault, and i hope Walter knows that Emily's death wasn't his either. I'll keep the Crumpler's in my heart and prayers. RIP Emily
<3Kayla

13 | Left by <3Kayla | Nov. 27, 2008 at 1:58pm


I lost an uncle to suicide 5 years ago. the pain is still so real. it tore my family apart and nothing has ever been the same. Its the worst pain in the world to lose someone like that.

14 | Left by Court | Dec. 7, 2008 at 6:04pm


That gave me goose bumps, how sweet. How did Emily commit suicide ?

15 | Left by Susan | Aug. 14, 2009 at 5:36pm

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