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| The Herrera family: Crystal, Jorge and Isabella |
Her husband Jorge died in March 2011. He was clutching their 14-month-old daughter Isabella in his arms when he called out to Crystal.
He never got to see the son she was carrying. Matthew was born a few months later.
Her husband's passing from sudden cardiac death rattled her soul. Her mom moved into the Wellington home she shared with her husband to help her. She went to grief counseling where she slowly learned to forge a separate identity. She also joined a club for widows to connect with like-minded people. And she found ways to keep Jorge's memory alive.
On her Facebook wall, the nurse practitioner often reminds her followers: "Remember, don't take your loved ones for granted! Tomorrow is never promised!!!"
Swing set for Isabella
In March of this year, she invited friends and family to build a swing set for Isabella, Jorge's last wish.
On April 13, Crystal wrote on Facebook: "In the quiet of the morning Isabella wanted to swing. She was chattering away when she turned to the empty swing on her right and said, 'I'm swinging daddy!'
"I wasn't sure I heard her correctly so I asked her what she said. Without hesitation she repeated herself word for word but then added, 'daddy is sleeping.'
"My heart broke in a million pieces if that is even possible with everything we have already been through....
"Thank you to everyone who made this moment possible by building her this swing set. I think he was swinging with her today."
Team for Jorge
In August, she created a Heart Walk team in honor of her late husband, a lawyer.
He didn't have a known heart condition when he died. His heart simply stopped beating.
She invited family and friends to join her on Sept. 29 at the Meyer Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach. She wanted to spread the word about sudden cardiac death.
Crystal ran her first 5K on that day with two friends, Jackie Galbraith and Rebecca Washam. They finished the course in 33 minutes. And then they waited and waited for other family and friends to show up for the 5K walk.
She asked everyone to wear orange and blue, her husband's favorite colors. Jorge had graduated from law school at the University of Florida. "He bled orange and blue!" she said, noting his allegiance to all things UF and its Gator teams. To him, there were no other colors.
Crystal had white T-shirts designed for herself and her immediate family with a big blue heart on the front with this saying in orange: "All because he had a big heart." On the back, in Gator blue text, she had these words printed: "In loving memory of my husband Jorge Herrera 1981-2011." (Her kids' shirts read: "In loving memory of my daddy.")
Below that phrase, she had printed in Gator orange: "Sudden cardiac death does happen!"
Her T-shirt attracted the attention of Sam Griggs, the vice president of donor relations for the American Heart Association. He asked her to email him because he thinks she should consider volunteering and telling that story at functions. As she retold that meeting during the 5K walk, she added, "I think I will volunteer."
Her team raised $1,865, surpassing its goal of $1,250. She was able to recruit 15 people, five over her goal of 10.
On her Facebook wall, the nurse practitioner often reminds her followers: "Remember, don't take your loved ones for granted! Tomorrow is never promised!!!"
Swing set for Isabella
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| The swing set built in honor of Jorge Herrera. |
On April 13, Crystal wrote on Facebook: "In the quiet of the morning Isabella wanted to swing. She was chattering away when she turned to the empty swing on her right and said, 'I'm swinging daddy!'
"I wasn't sure I heard her correctly so I asked her what she said. Without hesitation she repeated herself word for word but then added, 'daddy is sleeping.'
"My heart broke in a million pieces if that is even possible with everything we have already been through....
"Thank you to everyone who made this moment possible by building her this swing set. I think he was swinging with her today."
Team for Jorge
 |
| Jackie Galbraith (left), Crystal Herrera and Rebecca Washam ran the 5K. |
In August, she created a Heart Walk team in honor of her late husband, a lawyer.
He didn't have a known heart condition when he died. His heart simply stopped beating.
She invited family and friends to join her on Sept. 29 at the Meyer Amphitheatre in West Palm Beach. She wanted to spread the word about sudden cardiac death.
Crystal ran her first 5K on that day with two friends, Jackie Galbraith and Rebecca Washam. They finished the course in 33 minutes. And then they waited and waited for other family and friends to show up for the 5K walk.
Big Gator fan
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| Crystal Herrera with daughter Isabella and son Matthew at the Heart Walk |
Below that phrase, she had printed in Gator orange: "Sudden cardiac death does happen!"
Her T-shirt attracted the attention of Sam Griggs, the vice president of donor relations for the American Heart Association. He asked her to email him because he thinks she should consider volunteering and telling that story at functions. As she retold that meeting during the 5K walk, she added, "I think I will volunteer."
Her team raised $1,865, surpassing its goal of $1,250. She was able to recruit 15 people, five over her goal of 10.
And now, for my numbers
I had my best walking day last week on Saturday, Sept. 29, 2012 when I walked:
Steps: 13,146
Miles: 6.6
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