Heartbreak and Letting Go

Even with a stable home, an agreed-upon household routine, and a fresh start in a new apartment, Dawn’s deep-seated trauma resurfaced after she turned 17 in January,2000.. Unable to accept parental authority, she began failing school and defying curfews. Following a night out without calling

Recognizing that she could not force Dawn to stay, and after a long night of crying, Robyn made the heartbreaking decision to pack her bags, as it was obvious that Dawn made the decision to leave home. She left the security and love of our family to find freedom in a very unstable environment. Six months later, on Mother’s Day of 2000, Dawn returned briefly to make amends with her family. They laughed, reminisced, and shared a beautiful, hopeful meeting.

Just two days later, Robyn received a catastrophic call: Dawn had been killed in a car accident less than a mile from home. Having lost both her marriage and her child in less than six months, Robyn spent years navigating extreme grief, shock, and crushing guilt.