Woman Discusses How She Forgave Her Best Friend After She Accidentally Ran Over And Killed Her Young Daughter

Brynn Johnson experienced the unimaginable when her best friend, Cassie Miller, accidentally ran over and killed her daughter, 17-month-old Rowyn Johnson, in the driveway of her home last year. Through all of the pain and loss, Johnson says her friendship with Cassie has grown stronger and that she never blamed her best friend for the horrifying accident. Instead, Brynn notes that Cassie has been there to share in her heartache and that the pair are now working together for a charity created in Rowyn’s name.

The Daily Mail reports that Brynn Johnson’s life was forever changed a year ago when her 17-month-old daughter Rowyn was ran over and killed by her best friend Cassie. The accident happened in Brynn’s driveway as the two friends attempted to get their boys in the vehicle for school. Cassie recounts how Rowyn’s brother Wyatt didn’t want to go to school that day and was crying. Brynn had gone inside to get a booster seat when apparently, Rowyn unknowingly exited the home. After Wyatt was secured in his seat, Cassie backed out of the driveway.

However, as she backed out, she all of a sudden felt a thump. She looked in her rear-view mirror and saw an image that would forever haunt her, her best friend’s toddler daughter’s lifeless body laying behind her vehicle. Cassie says that she saw Rowyn’s body at the exact same moment as Brynn and both rushed to provide first aide to the toddler. Despite their efforts, Rowyn passed away from her injuries and Cassie says she immediately begged for Brynn’s forgiveness.

“I remember saying ‘I’m so sorry, I’m so sorry’ as I sobbed and screamed. I was in shock and could not believe what had happened. Every single day I struggle with what I did and the guilt is overwhelming. It is almost a year since I killed Rowyn and still I have waves of such heartache, it’s a struggle to even get through the day. I wonder how I will ever recover from taking away my friend’s beautiful little girl and the truth is I never will.”

Though Cassie says she felt responsible for Rowyn’s death, Brynn says she never blamed her best friend and instead blamed herself for not seeing her daughter leave their home.

“When the accident happened and seeing my friend just crumble, engulfed with pain, not once did it ever occur to me to blame her. And there was never any question of if our friendship would survive, in fact quite the opposite has happened. We have grown even closer and held each other up during times when neither of us thought we would make it through the day. It as a tragic accident and I know Cassie loved Rowyn and like us misses her every day. ‘But I did blame myself. I thought ‘What kind of mom doesn’t know where her daughter is?’ I was consumed with thinking of ‘what ifs?’ and wishing things had been different.”

Through all of the pain, Brynn says she is fortunate to have had Cassie by her side. The pair started a charity organization together in Rowyn’s name called Raise For Rowyn. The organization is dedicated to helping other families dealing with a tragic loss.

In addition to the blossoming charity that will “keep Rowyn’s memory alive,” Brynn announced she is also expecting a new baby daughter in October. The new baby will be called Mynrow, an anagram of her big sister’s name.

What do you think about Brynn’s power of forgiveness and methods of keeping her daughter’s name alive despite her untimely death?

[Image Credit: Facebook/ Raise For Rowyn]