Yesterday morning, I was at Commack for the Commack-Kings Park girls lacrosse game, which was played on what would have been Shana Kay's 22nd birthday.
Kay was a 2004 Commack graduate who tragically passed from a bout with viral encephalitis on July 3, 2005. This was the third straight year the team has played on her birthday.
Here is the story, and here is a link to the Shana Kay Memorial Foundation site.
Both Jane and Randy Kay, Shana's parents, and Jared Kay, her older brother, were very gracious to the guests, which included Shana's old coach, Jess Scott, who is currently out on maternity leave, numerous old classmates, and many friends.
The family has the attitude that they would rather celebrate Shana'a life than constantly be bogged down in grief. Of course they are still very saddened, and feel great pain over the loss of a child/sister, but they do an excellent job of remembering their daughter through things like yesterday's game.
You can read more from them, and others who were at the game yesterday, below...
Jane Kay on spreading Shana's story: "The more people who hear her story, the better we are. It's painful and sad and upsetting, but the more we talk about her, the better we are."
Jane Kay on a saying she heard that shows how she and the family grieves: "If the song is to continue, we need to do the singing."
Jane Kay on Shana's personality: "I always said I wanted to be more like her."
Jane Kay on the shock and sadness of losing a child: "You never think anything like that would ever happen."
Jane Kay on keeping up with the lacrosse team: "They help us immeasurably."
Jess Scott, Shana's lacrosse coach, on how the five-footer played: "She was a fighter for sure, and she was an unbelievable leader. The kids do a lot still to keep her memory alive."
Randy Kay: "Losing a child is the most painful thing that can happen to you. It's just out of order. After she passed, we realized how many lives she touched."
Here are a couple of other notes:
-Jane Kay is a social worker for United Cerebral Palsy, her husband Randy is a dentist. Their son Jared is following in his father's footsteps, as he will graduate from dental school next month.
-Shana Kay had perfect attendance throughout high school.
Comments (1)
its very sad to hear her story. i express my sincerest condolences to all her family and friends. My God be with you all