I was also able to publish a couple books, one of which is titled The Air Inside, which teaches elementary-aged kids how to be safe around helium and helium balloons. The other book is Ashley’s personal story, including her life and tragic accident with Helium. I titled this book My Daughter Died Laughing.
Raising awareness about Helium inhalation has given me strength and something positive to focus on in memory of my daughter Ashley. I truly believe it’s important to find a way to honor and remember our loved ones in the most positive and productive ways possible. Each and everyone of our lives are important and we all have a purpose. I believe this is Ashley’s purpose.
Before I go, I’d like to leave you with this. A poem written by my daughter Ashley in eighth grade.
Your Life Matters To Me:
Waking up in the morning feeling like you’re worth nothing
People don’t hear the voice inside you screaming out real loud
You hold it in, afraid to let it out
So you just sit back and let it tear up your world
BUT there is something you need to know about your own life
That it matters to me
Just like any other day
Life may take you down sometimes, but you’ll always have me by your side to bring you back up
Wipe away your tears and tell yourself you’re stronger than you think you are
Don’t let those words bring you down this far
My life would never be the same without you around
I JUST WANT YOU TO SEE YOUR LIFE MATTERS TO ME
Just because you’re different doesn’t mean you’re strange
Don’t give up everything you have over the words they say
You know they’re not true
Don’t let it get to you
Because YOUR LIFE MATTERS
Just like any other day, life may take you down sometimes
But you’ll always have me by your side to pick you back up
Wipe away those tears and tell you you’re stronger than you think you are
Don’t let words bring you down this far
People can change
I just wanted you to see
IT MATTERS… LIFE MATTERS
IT MATTERS TO ME
Thank you Ashley for this poem. I will live by this the rest of my life, because your life matters to me. Thank you from the bottom of my broken heart.
**This story was written by Lori Earp, author of My Daughter Died Laughing and The Air Inside. Follow her journey on Facebook.
