“Teddy” went everywhere with the little girl, including her final days in the hospital.
On April 2, 2016, at age 17, McDowell died of complications from undiagnosed Crohn’s disease.
On the day of her funeral, her younger brother, then 11-year-old Christian, gave “Teddy” one last hug. He took its photo, then placed the stuffed animal in the casket.
The gestures brought tears to his mother’s eyes. He continues to amaze, Lori McDowell said, despite the toughest loss of his life, his big sister.
Christian, 16, has a locket with a photo of him and his sister.
“It is hard for someone to understand the pain and the loneliness of losing your only sibling unless you have gone through it,” said Christian, of Oakmont.
5 share anguish of losing a sibling lmtonline.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from lmtonline.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.