Touching words from the sister of slain fitness model Amanda Sazell

When I received an email yesterday from Brandy Cooke, the sister of slain fitness model Amanda Sazell, I was very touched by what she wrote about her sister and the grieving process which she is going through. Having now received Brandy’s permission to share them, following are the words she wrote:

I appreciate each and every one of you for listening to my story and for
allowing me to express my desires in ministering and speaking to the public
about this. You have all paved the way for us victims to really make a
difference in this world, and for that I am forever thankful. Every day
that goes by that I am not reaching out and helping just frustrates the heck
out of me, so I’m ready whenever y’all are. I feel like the more I talk
about my sister, the more alive her spirit will stay.

Some days I’m not so well put together, and some days I feel like I can
conquer the world. I still sit in her closet and smell her clothes, and I
still wear a piece of her clothing or jewelry every day. I drive her car
now and I have yet to take the CD out of the player that was left in there
from her last ride. I sleep on her pillow because it smells like her hair
and I wear her favorite vanilla lotion that she swore made all the boys
crazy. My eyes appear more green when I look in the mirror every day
because her eyes were more green than mine; and I see the beauty and inner
strength in me she always saw that I never felt I had. My sister will be at
every platform I stand on because she will never leave my side. All of this
I bring to you in hopes that you all will understand the passion that I feel
in saving even one woman’s life from an abusive relationship. I want to
help make a difference in this world. I want to be her voice.”

As you can see, Brandy can and will make a real difference. God bless you and your family as you continue through the grieving process. May you all reach that healing spot one day soon – but take your time doing so. Time does heal wounds.

Sister of slain fitness model to speak out against relationship violence

Amanda Sazell

(Click on photo to enlarge)

Several months ago, fitness model Amanda Sazell was tragically killed in a highly-publicized murder-suicide case by an admitted steroids dealer and user, who had admitted providing steroids to at least one former Dallas Cowboy.

Now Amanda’s equally attractive and vivacious sister, Brandy Cooke, has decided to begin speaking our publicly against domestic violence and steroids use in hopes of saving the lives of many other women.

My wife and I met her at The Family Place’s annual Trailblazers Awards luncheon yesterday, and were very impressed by her and her rather surprising enthusiasm and strength for what she wants to do. She said that she and her family want to meet with me and other members of the LIllian Smith Family Violence Foundation because, as survivors of various kinds of family violence, they want to speak with others who have been through the same grieving which they are experiencing. One of our organization’s objectives is to provide comfort to those who have experienced family violence trauma.

We look forward to meeting with Brandy and her family soon.