When I read Emily’s poem, A Single Leaf, and I get to the following line, I can’t help but smile, despite the sadness I feel at her absence:

“Warm sunlight shines through the bare branches of treesIt hits me in the faceLighting up the space around meAs if I were an angel sent from heaven.”

Emily is my angel sent from heaven. She was born into this world to have an impact – and wow, was she ever successful at doing that! Read on:

Helen, a woman who was gifted the book, Emily and Her Wish to be Famous, has been so influenced by Emily that she is referencing Emily’s story and poetry in a book on slate to be published about feeling gratitude,

…We have been given the second chance that was not granted to Emily Lyman who reached out to so many in just 15 short years. Let us use our extra 15 years as best we can. May it lead us to appreciate what is good, and to do what we can to leave this world in somewhat better shape than we found it? Then, as young Emily said, “whatever happens, we will have no regrets”

A former classmate of Emily’s, who shared her passion for Harry Potter, wrote a poem about Emily for a college writing course. Here is an excerpt:

…She guides our wayand lives in usand though we may want it—we don’t need any resurrection stone to bring her backbecause her own impact keeps her with us.

Like Harry Potter, not once did she falter.

Like Harry Potter, despite all odds, she continues to live.

Like Harry Potter, she deserves to be famousbecause she never drew attention to herselfso we have to do so for her.

She was the bravest, this Gryffindor girl… (Emily dressed up as Hermione for Halloween.)

She’s still the fiercest, this Gryffindor girl…

Emily, you will always be our Gryffindor girl.

This Holiday Season, please show your support for the Emily M Lyman Foundation by making a tax-free donation. Donations can be made through the website: www.inspiredbyemilylymanfoundation.org or by sending the following form to the Emily M Lyman Foundation, 161 Appletree Point Road, Burlington, VT 05408.Name:___________________________________

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