June 9 was supposed to be a day of celebration for Tammy Creveling.

Three years earlier, while battling breast cancer, she had pledged to make it to her youngest son’s graduation, and finally the day had come.

In an instant, however, the day would become known for a horrible tragedy. Her 3-year-old granddaughter, Vanna Rose, died after being struck by a car outside her home in Lansford. Police are still completing their investigation into the incident.

“I’ll never understand, not 3 years old. You’re just so pure and innocent. It should never be that way. Never,” she said.

Vanna Rose could light up a room with her smile. She loved to sing songs from her favorite movies like “Frozen,” and especially loved spending time with her three sisters and two brothers.

Creveling said the night of the incident she was at her home, when one of her sons came to the door and told her what happened.

“I kept saying, ‘This isn’t real, this is a dream, I know I’m going to wake up, this is just a nightmare,’?” she said.

For Creveling, it was like a nightmare on repeat.

Twenty seven years before, a tragic accident took her son when he was almost exactly the same age as Vanna. Both children died in their father’s arms.

In the shock from Vanna’s death, she started writing. It took a while for her to realize that she was forming a poem.

The poem was inspired by Vanna, but it reflected her own tragic loss.

The theme of the poem was time. Creveling wrote that time with our loved ones is short, and not promised.

“Please don’t take time for granted, for tomorrow is not promised, and in a split second, your world as you know it could be turned upside down and forever altered,” she wrote.

The loss was just as hard for Vanna’s maternal grandmother, Venus Enoch-Egri, who called her “instant sunshine.”

Living just up the street, Enoch-Egrie said Vanna was welcome to stay with her anytime. She loved to hear her sing.

Now, the toys which Vanna played with at her house are tragic reminders of the loss.

“Nothing can prepare you for tragedy of this magnitude. No one ever thinks they will have to bury their child,” Enoch-Egrie said.

Some of her toys are now part of a memorial outside the home. Alongside them are flowers donated by friends and family.

Creveling said she’s been overwhelmed by the support since Vanna’s death.

Creveling’s son Kyle and Enoch-Egrie have each started online fundraisers in Vanna’s memory. They are available at https://www.gofundme.com/f/funeral-expenses-for-my-niece-vanna-rose and https://www.gofundme.com/f/vanna-rose-funeral.

The fundraisers will help with the unexpected funeral expenses for the family.

Creveling said a parent who has lost a child wants to give them the best burial that they can. It was what she wanted for her son, and an opportunity that Vanna’s parents deserve as well.

“That’s the very last thing that they can do for her,” she said.

Police are still looking into the incident. Creveling said she won’t assign blame until they have completed their investigation. She said she feels sorry for everyone involved in the situation.

“I think it’s best to wait for the police to deal with this,” she said.

In the meantime, her priority is helping Vanna’s parents, Matt and Paula, through the grief, and Vanna’s five siblings.

Creveling said she would do anything to prevent her children from going through the pain she felt when she lost her son. It is a parent’s natural instinct to shield them from harm.

“I wish there was a way I could take it all away from them. There’s one thing for sure, I don’t want anybody to ever feel like this.,” she said.

Tammy Creveling’s poem:

TIME. What we all say we don’t have. What we all seem to take for granted including myself.

None of us realize just how lucky we are. Then one day this horrible accident happens and you loose someone so perfect, innocent, and beautiful, with so much life ahead. JUST GONE. You have no chance to hold, hug, or say I LOVE YOU again too fast to say goodbye.

All the broken hearts left behind, with all the racing thoughts of I wish I did, I wish I could, I wish I said. I wish, I wish, I wish. The tears that flow is like a raging river, and all you can do is cry and ask WHY, WHY, WHY?

Now our time with the most precious little angel is gone. There is no time left. So please everyone, love and let your loved ones know you love them. Go visit your loved ones, spend that very valuable time with the greatest treasures of life … LOVED ONES.

Please don’t take time for granted for tomorrow is not promised and in a split second your world as you know it could be turned upside down and forever altered … I can only pray that no other parents have to feel the pain of such tragedy.

God bless embrace your well spent time with all your loved ones.

My granddaughter, 3 years old, was hit and killed by a car. Her parents are devastated. I ask everyone to keep them in your prayers and please be safe.