GRESHAM, Ore. (KOIN) — Losing a loved one is something you never get over, said Susan Bitton, you just learn how to live with it.
Bitton has had to face this challenge a lot in her life: She lost her oldest son when he was 16, her husband 16 years ago and her nephew passed away last year.
“We’ve had a lot to deal with in our family,” Bitton said, “a lot of loss.”
On Friday, she lost another loved one. Her 19-year-old granddaughter, Kendra Cornwell, died in a crash on Highway 26 in Tillamook County. One other person was killed and 5 others were injured. Kendra was a passenger in one of the vehicles involved. The driver, an 18 year old from Portland, is in critical condition at OHSU.
Kendra, who celebrated her 19th birthday 10 days ago, was an aspiring nurse and someone, her grandmother said, who aimed to help anyone she could.
“She was a shining star, full of personality and life and love,” Bitton said. “She wanted to take care of everybody and make sure nobody was ever hurt. she wore her heart on her sleeve.”
That aspiration to help people happened in the home, too. Bitton remembers a period 9 years ago, right after surgery, where 10-year-old Kendra acted as her grandmother’s personal nurse.
“She knew — she was so smart, every pill she knew what it did, what it’s true name was,” Bitton recalled. “Her job was to take care of Nanna.”
As the years went on, Kendra’s career choice solidified even more. She had graduated from Centennial High School in Gresham — with over 20 college credits in hand — and was taking a year off before starting prerequisites for nursing or PA school. Also, over the past 3 years, she spent time helping children with special needs, her grandmother said.
“She absolutely knew that was where she was headed,” Bitton said.
Now, Bitton and the rest of the family will try to learn how to live without Kendra. They’ve done it before, but it won’t be easy without her, a “go-getter,” someone who was full of life and not afraid of anything.
“I don’t know anyone who didn’t love Kendra,” Bitton said.
