It's not fair.

Do not stand at my grave and weep;
I am not there. I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow.
I am the diamond glints on snow.
I am the sunlight on ripened grain.
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning’s hush,
I am the swift uplifting rush
of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the soft stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry;
I am not there, I did not die.

Samantha was a beautiful vibrant 12 year old girl. She died Saturday night in a fire in her home. She was the daughter of my friend Heather - also known as Rowan Mayfaire 79. Heather herself is in the hospital. My heart is breaking. Life isn't fair, so very really not fair.

UPDATE - Heather is in ICU, with a trach and will be sedated for 2 to 3 weeks (according to hubby). I've called the hospital and they won't tell me diddly other than she can have no visitors. Heather has smoke inhalation and some burns, Nick is alright and is already out of the hospital. I'll post as soon as I find out anything else. I know that both Mark and Heather will be touched and thankful for all your good wishes and condolences. I'm going to post the newspaper article about the fire.

This was in the Hamilton Spectator June 23


A 12-year-old girl is dead after being discovered in a closet during an early morning fire yesterday, while her mom and brother wandered the streets blocks away.

Samantha Allan was found by crews searching her Ramsden Drive home, near the Linc and Upper Sherman Avenue, around midnight.

Her 29-year-old mother, Heather, and four-year-old brother, Nicodemus (Nick), were located about two blocks away from the home. Police said Heather was covered in soot and may have been in shock.

Hamilton Staff Sergeant Bob Watts said a preliminary investigation shows the fire may have been caused by the girl's brother.

"We're leaning at this time to a four-year-old playing with matches," Watts said.

The Fire Marshal's Office, which was investigating at the home yesterday, could not confirm matches caused the blaze.

"We're here at the scene right now to go through it to either corroborate that or to refute it," said investigator Mariano Perini.

Emergency crews were called to the quiet neighbourhood early yesterday by an area resident who reported seeing smoke.

Once firefighters arrived, it was evident there was a fire burning in the two-storey home, said Hamilton fire safety officer John Verbeek.

The blaze is believed to have started in Nick's bedroom on the second floor.

Allan, whose legal name is Eaton, was found in the closet of her bedroom with no vital signs.

She was pronounced dead at hospital and a post-mortem examination confirmed she died from smoke inhalation.

Verbeek said there is no foul play suspected regarding her being in the closet, although investigators can't say for certain why she was there.

"Kids naturally get scared and they try to hide," he said. "It's not the first time that I've heard of a child being found in a closet."

Samantha's stepfather, Mark, was at work at the time of the blaze. He returned home while emergency crews were still on scene.

Verbeek said there was a working smoke alarm wired into the home's electrical system on the second floor of the home, although another battery-powered alarm at the top of the basement steps did not have a battery.

There was no indication from neighbours they heard any screams or yells.

The family had only recently moved into the neighbourhood, taking possession of the house May 30.

"They're still in the process of unpacking," Verbeek said.

Neighbours said they did not really know the family, although they mentioned seeing Samantha.

"I saw her out there playing with the four-year-old," said next door neighbour Donna Morris, "... It's hard to believe."

Heather and her son were also taken to hospital. She remained in the intensive care unit at Hamilton General Hospital yesterday, suffering from smoke inhalation.

It's unclear if her son was still in hospital yesterday but he was in good condition earlier in the day, police said.

Damage to the home is estimated at $50,000.

The Ontario Fire Marshal's Office has been called in to determine the cause of the fire.

That is standard practice when someone dies as a result of a blaze.


*sigh* Doesn't this just break your heart.

Friends who want an address to send condolence cards etc should contact my email.