On a cold mid-November morning last year, Gayle Hunt finished fixing breakfast for her two kids and went into her bedroom to finish getting ready to head off to work. She sat down and felt an intense pain in her lower abdomen, which began creeping higher and higher into her torso.
She knew something terrible was happening.
Jackson Hill had his summer planned out. He was working out, getting ready for his senior football season at Lee's Summit High School. The 17-year-old had a well-paying job with a moving company that helped him bulk up for his starting spot as an outside linebacker. He had just finished football camp and was looking forward to a little time off.
Instead, he spent the summer fighting for his life.
Charles Braithwait was always on time. That's why his wife, Sandra, was worried when he was several minutes late to pick her up for an after-work dinner date.
After waiting several minutes, she called his cell phone.
"He'd been trying to get his phone out of his pocket. He said 'Sandra, come quickly — I'm sick."
