POTTSBORO, TX--It's been nearly nine months since a Pottsboro family lost their 27-year-old daughter. In January, they launched dozens of balloons on her birthday in her memory. One of those landed in Mississippi, hundreds of miles away.
Released from North Texas, a balloon managed to land in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
"They found it in their driveway, 340 miles away," Terry Wood said, Bethany's mother.
It was January 20th. Bethany Wood would have been 28-years-old.
"Knowing that her first birthday without her was coming up, my sister and niece wanted to launch balloons when we went out to visit the cemetery," Terry Wood said.
Bethany's family gathered at her grave site that day, and released dozens of balloons for her. Each had a note tied to it.
"If you find this, please email us and let us know that you found it," Terry Wood said.
Within 24 hours, one of the balloons managed to find its way to a Mississippi zip code. The family replied.
"Even with something so small as someone finding a balloon, her life is still sending joy out to other people," Terry Wood said.
On June 1st, 2011, Bethany was admitted to TMC with pneumonia. She died unexpectedly the next morning.
"When she was four she started getting some autoimmune diseases that caused her to have a weak and fragile immune system," Terry Wood said.
It wasn't something the family expected. Bethany was active and social growing up. Her favorite movie was the Wizard of Oz.
"She had the heart that the tin man needed, the courage that the lion desired, and the brain that the scarecrow sought after," Doug Wood said, Bethany's father.
"So, she has quite a collection," Terry Wood said.
Though Wood has kept the Clarksdale family's identity a secret, she still wants to send this message.
"I just wanted to let her know how grateful they were that they took the time to do that, and for her to send such a sweet message," Terry Wood said.
She's glad Bethany's spirit has touched someone else...over the rainbow.
All content © Copyright 2000 - 2012 WorldNow and KTEN. All Rights Reserved.