Essence of Emily

The Essence of Emily
(Published in Nashoba Publications, Times free Press and Lowell Sun)
By: Kris Anderson

In a time of economic crisis, where loss is measured in dollars, stock options and investment portfolios, a 16 Year old inspires thousands to give.

Wise beyond her years, 16 year old Emily Howley - Johnson chose to become an organ donor, not long before her death on November 17, 2008 As a result, Emily saved 5 lives and improved countless others, even as she lost her own. Through Donor Alliance, Emily gave her heart to a 9 year old boy; a lung to a mother of 2; a kidney and pancreas to a 37 year old man with Type 1 Diabetes, a kidney to a 29 year old woman and her corneas to two others. In addition, bone and soft tissue donations saved many others across the Country. Her example inspired her local High School and families across the Country to begin a tradition of "Random Acts of Kindness" to help others; in Emily's name.

The Bible says that we may entertain angels, unawares, during our time on earth. It truly seems that such was the case, with Emily Johnson. Emily was the 16 year old daughter of Sheryl Howley Johnson, formerly of Groton, and her husband D.J. Tragically killed in an A.T.V. accident in Colorado this November, she leaves behind a legacy most would take a much longer lifetime to build. Friends and family of the Howley and Johnson families will be holding a benefit on March 7, at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Pepperell to help old friends through this time of unthinkable loss. Called "Celebrating the Essence of Emily: A benefit for the Howley-Johnson Family", friends and strangers alike are invited to celebrate the life of an amazing girl and support their family in the spirit of community for which Emily was so well known.

Emily was one of those kids everyone noticed. This special high school junior was loving to her family, friends, the environment, her school, her soccer team, kids nobody wanted to be friends with and even strangers. Though a fierce competitor on the soccer field, as her aunt, Kim Howley English of Groton put it, "the essence of Emily was love." She went on to describe the beauty of her niece-which transcended her obvious physical beauty. "If you put your hand on Emily's shoulder, she would put her hand on your hand. If you leaned your head on her, she would lean her whole self into you. She was love."

Born and raised in Colorado, along with her beloved sister, Hanna, 14, Emily knew how sweet her life was from a very young age. Emily loved acting, and when she was just 10, while attending some acting classes in Carbondale, CO, she was invited to Hollywood by the daughter of an Academy Award winning screen writer. Excited, she and her mother made the trip to California, where Emily landed a part in a Public Service commercial promoting fitness, called "Verb, Its What You Do!", with NFL star, Donovan McNabb. Though she sparked much interest and thoroughly enjoyed her adventure, Emily was not seduced by the lure of fortune and fame. She told her parents she just wanted to return to her life in Colorado. "I LOVE my life. I love my friends. I love my family.” she said. Echoes of these sentiments in her journals have provided endless comfort to those she left behind.

Emily was invited with her friend, Rachel and family to travel to El Salvador. Traveling to the village of Epilogos, San Jose Villanueva, Emily experienced poverty first hand. She had planned to return for her senior year service project. She wanted to continue the work of volunteers Mike and Susie Jenkins, who had helped the village gain a water pump, fish farm, community center and school. The fish farm was so successful that the villagers had been able to open a restaurant. Emily met families displaced by gang violence and women who had to do their laundry in creeks. It was her wish to help to improve the lives of her new friends.

Even before high school, Emily had been a very young activist. She boycotted Coca Cola when she read that the company was not environmentally sensitive to the rain forest and founded the Planet Protectors at age 10. This club would go around picking up trash and spreading environmentalism at the grassroots level. Emily inspired her friends to post "Save the Earth" signs at school and around town and she loved to march in the parade at "Silt Hey Day"- her hometown's annual celebration-carrying "Love Mother Earth" signs, wearing like minded T-shirts and giving out candy. In middle school, Emily organized a dance for charity, raising over $400.which she used to adopt an Indian child named Munmun, providing food, medical care and education for her. She protested her school's ban on PJ pants and hugging- and worked to promote Gay Rights, all before she was in high school.

She left behind books and books filled with pages of affirmation of how much she loved her life. She was against drug and alcohol abuse and meanness. She believed in the power of good. Known for speaking out against bullying, Emily was the first to welcome a new student and had the gift of making everyone feel like they counted with her. During the agonizing week when Emily hung in the balance between life and death, her school held a candle-light vigil. Hundreds of kids showed up on a frigid night to pray and tell stories of Emily, before releasing balloons. Her soccer coach called her the heart of the team. Emily's 5 best friends told of her relentless humor as part of their circle 'the Six Chix'. Another friend told the story of her disastrous experiment using caramel as shampoo! After Emily passed away, a Celebration of Life was held at her high school, with over 1300 people gathering to remember their soccer captain and homecoming queen.

Emily left her family a gift that can't help but make one wonder if she had some kind of knowledge that her time with them would be short. She left a series of quotes and pictures, which she recorded, leaving no doubt as to how Emily viewed life. One of her quotes seemed to tap into this wisdom. "We always thought we would look back on our tears and laugh; but never thought that we'd look back on our laughter and cry." Though heartbroken, Emily's parents are determined to carry on Emily's example of giving in a positive way. To this end, a 3v3 soccer tournament called "Play It Forward" will be held in Glennwood Springs, Colorado, on June 6th and 7th to raise money for two Scholarships in Emily's name. One scholarship will be given to a student who shares Emily's passion for soccer. The other will be given to someone sharing her passion for creativity.

Coal Ridge High School will be dedicating Emily's former soccer field in March, in her honor. Affectionately dubbed "The Pasture" by Emily and her teammates for the dubious practice of spreading manure on in the pre-season; the soccer field will soon host a plaque reading: "The Pasture: in honor of Emily Johnson, our friend, teammate and Captain." A bas relief of Emily's handprint will be set into the plaque as well, "for all to reflect and touch hands with Em", explained Emily's mother, Sheryl Howley-Johnson. She noted, "Her spirit guides us daily."

For more information about organ donation, please contact Donor Alliance at www.donoralliance.org. Anyone interested in attending the benefit can purchase tickets at Groton Market, Main Street, Groton, MA. The Knights of Columbus of Pepperell are donating their Event Hall and local talents Coretta Sellars and the Tastes Like Chicken Band will be donating their music as well. In addition Local businesses are donating raffle items. Celebrating the Essence of Emily will be held on Saturday, March 7, from 7:30-11:30. Admission is $10.oo for adults and $5.oo for students/seniors. Guests are encouraged to bring a non-perishable donation for the food pantry, in Emily's name. Anyone interested in making a donation directly can do so at: Emily Johnson Benefit fund, Alpine Bank; 709 Horizon Dr; Grand Junction, CO 81506. For more information please contact Teresa Coyle-Airey at 978-833-9240

Emily taught by example to love and to give with no expectation of receiving anything in return. This is a chance for the Groton-Dunstable community to give back to such an exceptional girl, by supporting her family through their darkest hours. Groton was home to the Howleys for years. Grotonians will remember "Veggie City", the Howley's family farmstand on the corner of Nod Rd. and Rt. 119, manned by Howley kids: Sheryl, Kim, Jim, Bryan, Jenn and T.J. And Jim Howley, Sr was a well known face for years, with his milk route. Dunstablites knew the Howleys best from Jim and Delores' founding of the Dunstable General Store. Please consider giving your support to this worthy benefit. This is our chance to help "make it OK again" for the family of this wonderful girl. To use one of Emily's favorite quotes, ”Everything is OK in the end. If its not OK; its not the end."