Kaitlyn’s Memory Will Go On

My daughter was an artist and she drew this self-portrait when she was around 17 or 18 in high school. When Kaitlyn took her life, the deans and the students of Wake Forest School of Medicine, where she had started her 3rd year of medical school, decided to create an ongoing fund in Kaitlyn’s name in their Wellness Center for students that are having problems of depression, or any kind of mental illness, so they can get the help they need. They have also hired another psychologist for the center for this purpose and they are taking great steps to make sure students are aware that there is help for them at the school.

The Deans at the school requested that I let them take the portrait and make a full sized print of this large drawing and they will hang it up in the Wellness Center where it will remain forever more. I am proud that it will be hanging there but I hate the reason it’s there is because she took her own life. But, I’m proud because even after her death, she is helping people that have the same problem she had but for some reason could not come forth to get help. I’m hoping that the picture of a fellow student that took their own life will bring home the reality of how serious depression is and seek help if they need it.

It will be picked up tomorrow by a fellow classmate and brought back to us soon. Please pray for its safe return. I am so proud of Kaitlyn’s work. I’m so proud of her and everything she has done in her life.

I love you Kaitlyn.

http://www.wakehealth.edu/Oasis/Remembering-Kaitlyn-Elkins.htm