October 11, 2022 -

It started out as just another day. A new exciting chapter in my life was beginning I had been in Spain for three weeks. I signed a lease and was living in my own apartment minutes away from the Palacio Real de Madrid. I had completed my first week as a language assistant at IES Sevilla la Nueva, and felt a new found sense of confidence that I would be able to handle the position. After months of nervousness, it felt freeing to breathe a sigh of relief.

Then I got the phone call from my parents. My neice Taylor had passed away suddenly. She was just 17 years old. I was in utter disbelief, sobbing the rest of the way home from school. I had just texted with her mom that morning. This could not be happening.

Taylor suffered from an eating disorder - anorexia. Her body could not handle the disease anymore.

I was back on a plane to NY to be with my family and attend the services. It was a whirlwind of a week. I struggled with the thought of coming back to Madrid. Would I be able to walk back into a high school and work with teenagers. How could I not see Taylor's face in the faces of the girls at school everyday?

I knew Taylor would have wanted me to go back. She was so excited for me, I remember hugging her the September morning I was boarding the plane to come to Spain, less than a month before.

I returned to Madrid. I have made a promise to Taylor that I will always be available to help any child who is struggling with depression, anxiety, an eating disorder, mental illness, or addiction. I know that as a language assistant I have been granted a gift - a chance to really make a difference in people's lives. I will not take one moment of that for granted.

I miss you T, you are in my heart always -- love, uncle jay

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