Amber Lynn loved to read and sing to her younger sister,
Crystal, and she also enjoyed watching NASCAR racing with her dad. Because
United Parcel Service (UPS) sponsors driver Dale Jarrett, Amber's favorite
commercial for the "big brown truck" would frequently appear during the
races. Whenever she spotted the brown delivery truck in her neighborhood,
Amber Lynn would squeal, "Mommy, Mommy, look - the big brown truck!" and a
wide smile would cross her face. For Amber, watching for the delivery
truck had become a daily routine. When the precious four-year-old died
from complications of Byler's disease (a rare liver ailment), her family
and friends were distraught. Her grandmother contacted UPS and related to
them Amber's story.
Tim, a UPS employee, responded to the call. On the day of her burial, Tim
parked his big brown delivery truck directly in front of the funeral
parlor. He quietly walked toward Amber's casket and reverently placed
inside it a UPS teddy bear and a model of the big brown truck that Amber
Lynn had loved so dearly. Then he said, "These are for Crystal" as he
presented to Amber's parents a company pen and stuffed doggie. As he
walked back down the aisle, Amber's parents watched tears slowly roll down
Tim's face. He drove his big brown delivery truck in the funeral
procession to the cemetery. Upon Amber's grave, Tim placed a small box
with a rose on top and Crystal was told, "This special box is for you. It
is filled with hugs, kisses and love from your big sister Amber."
A few days after the funeral, Sue, another UPS driver, delivered a model
big brown truck to Amber's family for Crystal. Sue would accept no payment
for this special delivery but instead she simply replied, "I can afford
it; this is something I want to do." Now Crystal would have a model big
brown truck to play with just like the one her big sister Amber would be
playing with in heaven.
Dale Jarrett heard about Amber's story, and he sent a beautiful
bereavement message to her family. But he did more than that. Dale pinned
Amber's picture to the dashboard of his car, and as he drove laps around
the track during a fall NASCAR race, the national audience saw Amber's
sweet face flash across the television screen. They listened as the NASCAR
announcer told how Amber Lynn's kidneys were donated to two different
children. And they learned of another precious child (somewhere in Ohio)
who sings and reads with the heart of Amber Lynn beating inside her. Amber
Lynn became an organ donor so that others might live; now all would know.
To Amber's family, Dale Jarrett had delivered more than a winning
performance. And Tim and Sue had delivered more than packages. They
delivered love.
Reprinted by permission of Greta Zwaan
(c) 1991 from Chicken Soup for the Sister's Soul by Jack Canfield, Mark
Victor Hansen, Patty Aubery, Nancy Autio, Heather McNamara and Katy
McNamara. In order to protect the rights of the copyright holder, no
portion of this publication may be reproduced without prior written
consent. All rights reserved.
