'It's going to be a roller coaster'
MARS — Michael Rapp will put his own struggles on hold as he grieves the loss of his daughter, Brianne, 17, who died unexpectedly Friday at her home.
The 6-foot-10 Rapp struck his head in March, had emergency surgery, and is now in a wheelchair and unable to work.
“I told Brianne, 'When you graduate next year, I'll get up and walk,'” Rapp said.
In addition, he spent his 40th birthday at the funeral home making arrangements for his daughter's funeral services.
Brianne's two younger siblings are also struggling with their sister's untimely death.In a heartbreaking episode, Brianne's 4-year-old sister was told Brianne had earned her angel's wings and flew away to heaven.The youngster picked up her sister's phone and after telling the family Brianne had forgotten her phone, she accidentally dialed 911 and asked dispatchers if she could talk to her sister.Brianne's 12-year-old brother is holding up, Rapp said, but will likely be most affected by the loss in the weeks and months to come.“It's going to be a roller coaster,” Rapp said. “She loved her brother and sister and no matter what they were doing, she always had a smile on her face for them.”Visitation for Brianne Rapp will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Thompson-Miller Funeral Home, and a funeral will be at 3 p.m. Wednesday at Hill United Presbyterian Church.<em>A full story appears in Tuesday's Butler Eagle.</em>
