Kayleigh: A Tribute to a Beautiful Sister

Kayleigh Rebecca Potter: January 20, 1994-January 2, 2009

Just over a week ago, one of the most beautiful girls in this world taken back to be with our Heavenly Father. My sister Kayleigh was a light to all of us and in her short life she taught me so much.

A couple of days before her birth, I had some sort of thought, or feeling, or whatever you may want to call it that Kayleigh might have Down's Syndrome. I don't know why it came to me beforehand. Maybe I needed a little processing time to think about what that might mean. I was away at college for my sophomore year at the time. When the call came that she had arrived and that she had indeed been born with Down's, I shed some tears. But not many. I remember in the midst of my emotions, one of my best friend's and roommate Holly said: "Wow! Your family is so lucky that Heavenly Father considers you worthy enough to entrust you with one of his most valiant and choice spirits!" And that was all I needed to hear. I knew Kayleigh would be a blessing. And I knew that I had a lot I would learn from her.

The first time I met her, I fell in love with her. She was like a doll. So tiny in fact, that she sometimes did wear doll clothes. When she looked up at me with those clear eyes, I could sense the divinity within her.

I didn't get to see her as often as I would have liked in those early years. I didn't go home that summer because I got married, but I did get to see her briefly when my family visited. She was still a doll with the cutest smile and funny little facial expressions.

I remember after we had Taylor, we were in Logan visiting Alison and the rest of the family was there as well. Kayleigh was SO upset that there was someone littler than her trying to steal her thunder! But it didn't take her long to realize that her place as the family princess was safe. And eventually she and Taylor develped a strong bond. He was so great with her and always thought to include her in whatever we happened to be doing.

Over the years, the separations and reunions continued. Brief periods when the family would come to see us or when we would go and see them. I'd get pictures periodically so that I could see her growing. And I'd hear stories of all of her silly antics. I knew that she was CRAZY for Barney the dinosaur and McDonald's restaraunt. And PINK. And beads. Dolls with long hair that she could strip all their clothes off and swish that hair all around. And of course, her pom poms.

Kayleigh has the most amazing collection of pom-poms around. She spent hours and hours swinging those things, lost in her own little world of thought. I loved how she would suddenly burst out laughing at something funny in her head. I often wished I could see what she saw.

Time went on, and those infrequent visits continued. But the thing about Kayliegh was, she always warmed up quickly. She hugged me everytime as if we had never been apart; as if she knew me just as well as the rest of the family. She loved to talk on the phone and usually filled me in on what she was eating, or what she was watching on TV or what music she was listening to.

And finally, about a year and a half ago, Kayleigh came with Mom to Michigan to live. Finally, I got to know my sister the way I had always longed to. She loved to come to our house and spend time with her nieces and nephews. Particularly Lynnsey (whom she called Woontzy). She loved to scoop her up and hold her tight. At first, Lynnsey was uncomfortable with it and would squirm away, but eventually she seemed to sense that Kayleigh just needed her for a minute and would allow her to do it. I loved watching Kayleigh dance and sing to her music. I cracked up at dinner times when, after she'd been told that she'd had enough to eat, she'd sneak food off of my plate while I wasn't looking. I loved how she always wanted to sit with me in Sunday school and how she would hold my hand and lean her head on my shoulder. And mostly I loved when she would look right into my eyes and smile. I could still sense the divinity within her. I treasure the time I spent with her these last months.

Her passing was a shock to all of us. I think we all wish for more time to have prepared for it or to have given her an extra hug or one more "I love you". But she knows how much she meant to us. I know she does. Not having her here is heartbreaking. I will miss her every day. But I know that where she is, she's happy. I know that I will see her again someday. I am so thankful for eternal families and what that means for me and Kayleigh. A dear friend pointed out that Kayleigh only had to come to this earth to get her body, not to prove her righteousness as the rest of us do. The fact that she was allowed to remain here for nearly 15 years, I think was for our benefit. Do you know how I see her now? I picture her in her perfect form and with her perfect intelligence, giving the rest of us even more incentive to get our act together and become worthy to join her someday. I see her cheering us all on. With a pom-pom, of course.
I love you Kayleigh!!!