I'm not sure where to begin

I'm very sorry Lori, but yes she absolutely died a hero and I have no doubt that she's received a hero's welcome in heaven. I will continue to keep her family in my thoughts and prayers though. I can't imagine the sadness they must feel.

I'm so sorry, Lori.  I will keep both you & her family in my prayers.

i am so sorry to hear this!

nothing i say can make it better. but i will keep you and her family in my thoughts!

I'm so sorry, Lori. I know how hard death can be, and the only thing that will make it better is time.

Words cannot describe how you are feeling right now, and words cannot make things better. I hope you do find some comfort in that sweet angels efforts to save the life of another human. If only all of us could have that courage...

Thank you everyone.  I spoke to her today and God is really giving her the strength she needs right now.  She's taking care of the arrangements and she told me what exactly happened yesterday.  Let's just say when I told DH, he was crying.  They disconnected the machines-she was brain dead.  But, she wants this closure time and did say she needs it and needs to get back to life.  She hadn't left the hospital in 4 days.  She told me our boss came by the hospital and gave her money.  I knew I worked for wonderful people but that comfirms it. 

Thanks to everyone who prayed and thought of her.  I really appreciate it and I know she will too when she reads this.

Lori

 I only just read this and I am so sorry... I can't even imagine what your friend is going through.  Her daughter was a hero and I hope she can find the strength to be proud of her, beyond the grief. 

Thank you very much. 

Lori - I am just seeing this.  I am so sorry.  All of my prayers and thoughts are with this family and their new angel in heaven.  I had a best girlfriend that drowned saving a child while in the Peace Corp.  Although I cannot imagine what these parents are going through they know she is now safe and happy.

Lisa, your friend was a hero too! 

Thank you.  I went to the wake last night and it was so sad.  The had all different collages of her and her friends together with sayings underneath, sort of like a scrapbook page.  And, her first communion picture was on the casket.  The family was hard to see but worse was all her little friends that came--very sad. 

Thank you everyone again.

Lori,,, I am just reading this for the first time. I started reading it thinking that like so many threads that we read that start out bad and end well....that I could skip right to the end and find that this little girl pulled thru.  I see she did not!  I am so sorry!

A horrible thing to loose anyone....but a young daughter is just unthinkable!

I hope your friend knows what a nice friend she has in you!

 I haven't been around much, but just spotted this.  I can't imagine a more heartbreaking thing for any parent to have to suffer with a child.  I had a cousin who died in his thirties from drowning in a lake (after saving life of one person he was with, who had an arm in a cast and couldn't swim).  My aunt and uncle never really recovered from it all that well, and I still miss him, and think of him a lot.  I can only hope that this child's parents at least have the continued support of their family and friends like you, Lori.  Sad beyond words...and a forever kind of hurt.

So sorry, Lori - what a terrible, heart breaking tragedy.

I am wishing for restful peace and ease for Tiffany and strength and comfort for her family and all those who loved her.

Lori, I've been out of town since you posted the news of Tiffany's passing, so I'm just now seeing the heartbreaking update.  I don't know what to say --- I can't imagine how her family is feeling, and as her friend, the emotions you must be feeling are beyond me, too.  How does one offer comfort in such a situation?  Anything you do or say would feel useless.  I guess all you can do is tell her you're there for whatever she needs and be ready to offer an ear, a shoulder, small talk when she needs distraction, and of course, continued prayers.

These are the tragedies that just don't make sense.   Why does someone have to die in the course of doing something good, when other people live for decades when all they do is cause harm to others? 

Sending lots of strong vibes to her family, as well the friends and co-workers that are surely affected, too.