GAIL WHITE Jennifer's hugs and spirit transcend a life cut short

I never met Jennifer Arnold.
I could have picked her out in a crowd, though. A picture on her dad's desk reveals a red-headed, curly haired 12-year-old with a sparkle in her eyes showing her spunk as she sits between her two brothers.
I knew a great deal about Jennifer from talking with her father, Matt, who works as assistant copy desk chief in The Vindicator newsroom.
Whenever Matt spoke of his daughter, there was a soft gentleness to his voice, so filled with pride. This man adores his little girl.
A shadow would fill Matt's voice when we spoke of Jennifer's affliction with epilepsy. I talked with Matt often about this difficult subject. My mother has had epilepsy for 30 years.
I remember the day Jennifer had a seizure on the school bus. The shadow was full in Matt's voice that day. He and his wife, B.J., thought Jennifer's seizures were under control. They even had hopes that she had outgrown the epilepsy. It had been a year since her last seizure.
Jennifer, of course, was upset that schoolmates had seen her having a seizure.
A time of sadness
In January of this year, over the Martin Luther King holiday, the shadow turned to darkness. Jennifer was visiting her great-grandmother and great-aunt outside of Cambridge in southern Ohio. She suffered a grand mal seizure that lasted more than an hour.
Paramedics tried desperately to stop the convulsions. Jennifer was Life-Flighted to Cleveland. She died five days later.
It's the kind of news that knocks the wind right out of you.
When I heard of Jennifer's death, I literally fell to my knees. The spunky little redhead in the picture was gone.
Sometimes, there is just no understanding God's timing.
During Jennifer's emergency stay at the Cleveland Clinic, the Arnolds, of Mineral Ridge, stayed at Ronald McDonald House near the clinic.
"It is a wonderful facility," B.J. says. "I am so thankful it was there for us."
For $15 a night, families of children in the hospital can stay at Ronald McDonald House.
"Otherwise, families are looking at $80 a night for a hotel," B.J. contends.
Along with affordable housing, Ronald McDonald House provides for every need.
"They have soap and shampoo," B.J. says, explaining some of the basic provisions. "They have a washer and dryer to use free of charge.
"They have a full kitchen. Families can buy groceries and cook there," she continues. "Some families stay for a month at a time while their child is hospitalized or in after care," B.J. says.
Though the Arnolds benefited from Ronald McDonald House for six nights, the comfort and support they found in the home during their time of need left a lasting impression.
Giving thanks
A few months after Jennifer's death, Sharon Shivers, the great-aunt who was with Jennifer when she had her seizure and stayed with the family at Ronald McDonald House, came up with an idea to thank Ronald McDonald House and bless the families that stay there.
"A lot of families come to the Ronald McDonald House on emergencies," B.J. says, knowing full-well that feeling. "They haven't had time to pack."
Often, items of necessity are forgotten. In a rush, items of comfort are left behind as well.
The Arnolds decided to start a stuffed-animal campaign to benefit the children at Ronald McDonald House.
On Memorial Day, the Arnolds delivered their first donation of "Hugs From Jennifer" stuffed animals to Ronald McDonald House in Cleveland. Nearly 100 toys were given to the home to be handed out to sick children and to their brothers and sisters staying at the home who need a little comfort and a lot of hugs.
Each stuffed animal is tagged with a drawing of Jennifer with angels' wings and a note which reads, "This is a hug from Jennifer."
Recently, the Arnolds made a donation of 40 stuffed animals to Ronald McDonald House in Youngstown, with a promise of hundreds more, once they are tagged.
"The support has been overwhelming," B.J. says with gratitude, citing many groups and organizations that have donated to "Hugs From Jennifer."
"It has ballooned into more than we ever imagined," she says.
Though the family busily tags each toy, which are stored in Jennifer's bedroom, they can't help but wonder whom Jennifer will be hugging next.
"Jennifer would have loved this," B.J. says with a smile.
Looking at all the cuddly stuffed animals and thinking of the sick children and scared siblings who will be hugging them, it is the perfect gift of comfort and love in honor of a spunky little redhead.
Yes, Jennifer would have loved this. From her heavenly home, she sends her hugs.
gwhite@vindy.com
XTo make a donation to "Hugs From Jennifer," call (330) 652-3914.