In Memory of Elizabeth Christian Parker
On May 25, friends and family gathered on Folly Beach to celebrate the life of Elizabeth Parker, who passed on to the next world on May 20. Last Saturday, June 4, would have been her thirty-third birthday.
How I Know She’s An Angel
By Richard Brendel
This story takes place in the waning moments of Sol Driven Train’s May 20 performance at the Party on the Point. The band was playing on stage with Charleston Harbor in the background. There were roughly 300 folks in attendance, spread out on the grounds of the hotel and most of them listening to the music. The area near the stage was covered in white, grainy sand that had obviously been trucked in from somewhere other than Charleston.
It was in that area, next to the stage, where I spotted Miss Parker. We had spoken several times earlier in the evening, but this time she was standing all by herself. When she smiled at me, I felt as though I needed to be near her. She was wearing this pretty white dress, and when I walked up to her she said, “I think I need to have this dress taken in a bit,” and she spun around to show me how loose the dress was around her waist.
The band had just walked off the stage and we were waiting for them to come back for their encore. When they did, the crowd gave a little cheer, and before they started playing again, they re-announced that they were raising money for their friend who needs a heart transplant. This was when Parker, being Parker, turned to me and said in her soft voice, “I wish I had two hearts so I could give her one.”
At the time, I didn’t really think much of it. The band started with their song “Guest List,” which is a tune about how the only way they would get into heaven would be if someone were to put them on the guest list. Again, I didn’t pay much attention. We danced and smiled, and at the end of the song, I turned to Parker and gave her a big hug and told her that I loved her and to be safe; just like I do with all my friends that I care about. She gave me a big smile and we parted ways.
Looking back at that night, that moment in time was so surreal. We left Patriots Point and headed up onto the Ravenel Bridge. As we crested the top of the bridge, we saw fireworks from the baseball stadium exploding over the city skyline. I remember watching in awe, thinking that we had the perfect spot for fireworks. The whole time, unknown to us, something terrible was taking place behind us.
It wasn’t until the next day when I got a phone call from Elizabeth’s ex-husband, Derek, informing me that she had been hit on her moped by a drunk driver while crossing the bridge. Everything became a blur. I fought with myself over whether I should go see her in her hospital bed, but I didn’t want to ruin the perfect memory of our last goodbye. I finally realized that this would be my last chance to tell her that I loved her, so I went to the hospital.
I made sure that her friends told the nurses the story about what she had said to me about giving her heart. We were informed that due to the severity of the accident, her heart could not be saved. We, of course, were upset about this and went through all the steps of denial. (On a side note, we later found out that the doctors were able to save her liver and both of her kidneys).
Unable to fulfill her wish, I have been at a loss at how cruel and unfair living and dying can be. I put my thinking cap on and came up with a solution.
I spoke with both Sol Driven Train and Elizabeth’s parents, and we have decided that even though Parker was unable to donate her heart, it doesn’t mean that we can’t help the lady who desperately needs funds to get a heart transplant.
Below is a link to find out about Lisha Frits. I was blessed to have had a person like Elizabeth Parker in my life, and double-blessed to be the one that got to spend her last minutes with her. I’m triple-blessed to be able to spread the message of her love for life.
http://www.gofundme.com/HEART-TRANSPLANT-EXPENSES
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