School’s Walk for Lydia helps family heal

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Editor

When 7-year-old Lydia Schaeffer died last spring, St. Mary School Principal Loretta Jackson knew that she had to do something for the family.

After all, Jackson’s second family – that of St. Mary’s Church and school – had Lydia’s parents, Tom and Sally, as well as Lydia’s brothers Devin and Grant, to think about.

What took place Tuesday morning marked another step forward for the grieving family – and a chance for everyone to perhaps heal in a small way.

St. Mary School, taking part in its fifth annual walk for charity, dedicated its walk to Lydia Schaeffer. Normally students donate money to participate in the walk.

However, Jackson believes strongly that all students should participate, whether they are sponsored or not. Tuesday marked the first time the entire student body participated in the walk.

Students led the group in prayer before the walk, and the Schaeffer family – still considered five strong in spite of Lydia’s death – were at the front of the mile-long walk.

“It was emotional, but I was thankful for Devin’s school being so supportive for my family and our loss,” Sally Schaeffer said.

Remembering Lydia

Lydia Schaeffer’s face seemed to be almost everywhere last spring, as Sally Schaeffer fought to have Cannabadiol – or CBD oil – legalized as a seizure treatment in Wisconsin.

The oil, derived from a strain of marijuana referred to as Charlotte’s Web, lacks the psychotrophic effects of marijuana, and has worked in stopping seizures in a number of patients.

Lydia Schaeffer suffered from epilepsy as well as autism and Kleefstra Syndrome – a rare chromosome disorder that caused severe mental and physical delays.

Sally Schaeffer and other parents in Wisconsin won the battle to have the oil approved for use last spring, but Lydia died before she could benefit from the treatment.

Since then, a clause in the state law has prevented parents from accessing the CBD oil as a treatment, and Sally Schaeffer has taken the battle to the federal level – along with several other parents, including those of Charlotte Figi, for whom Charlotte’s Web is named.

Steps forward

Tuesday’s walk came about through the efforts of Jackson and the St. Mary community.

“Oh my goodness, we need to do something to remember her and help donate to the cause,” Jackson said about her reaction at Lydia’s funeral last spring.

The couple’s youngest, Grant, is a preschool student at St. Mary’s. Grant’s class put together a sign in support of Lydia for the walk – with handprints of each student in the class.

Third- and fourth-graders – Devin is in fourth grade at St. Mary’s – led the prayer, and had a short presentation for each letter of Lydia’s name.

“L is for the love everyone holds for her, Y is for the young girl she was,” Sally Schaeffer relayed on Tuesday evening. “D is for being a daughter.”

That phrase was emotionally difficult for Sally.

“She is my daughter, but she’s no longer here,” she explained.

“It was neat how they put a nice, key phrase to every letter,” she added. Sally added that I is for the incredible life Lydia had, and A is for “always remaining in our hearts.”

Students were excited to be walking for Lydia, as well.

“It’s nice that we’re together as a school, and that we’re coming together to support a local family,” said eighth-grader Simon Allen.

Said Jackson at the event Tuesday morning, “We’re within our school family and we felt everyone should walk as a school family.”

After the emotional day, Sally Schaeffer expressed gratitude.

“I appreciate St. Mary’s Church and School for the never-ending support,” Sally said. “For our family, for the loss of Lydia.”