by Len and Cherylann
For 33 days, we lived in a world that no longer made sense. Life kept moving around us, but we were frozen, trapped between hope and heartbreak, waiting for news about Britney. Every phone call made our hearts stop. Every update from Haiti could have been the one that changed everything.
We clung to hope, convincing ourselves she was out there somewhere, waiting to be found. And yet, in the quietest moments, we feared the worst, that we had lost her forever.
Just hours before the earthquake, Brit sent us a message that would become the foundation of everything we do:
"They love us so much and everyone is so happy. They love what they have and they work so hard to get nowhere, yet they are all so appreciative. I want to move here and start an orphanage myself."
Even in the waiting, even in the pain, those words carried us. They were Brit, her heart, her purpose, her undeniable love for the people of Haiti. And they became our sense of purpose.
The outpouring of love from our community was overwhelming. Thousands stood with us, praying, hoping, grieving. At the Hotel Montana, countless heroes worked tirelessly during those 33 days, never giving up hope. Colonel Cintron and his team showed unwavering dedication, working through unimaginable conditions to bring our daughter home. Their determination gave us strength when ours wavered.
Those 33 days would later take on even more meaning as we built Brit's Home, welcoming 33 boys and 33 girls, a number that will forever remind us of the days we waited, prayed, and hoped. Each child represents a day of that journey, transforming a period of darkness into a legacy of light.
No amount of support could take away the unimaginable pain of being Brit's parents, Brit's brothers, her family, friends, of living each day not knowing if she was hurt, if she was scared, if she was still fighting to survive. We fell asleep every night with those thoughts, and we woke up every morning with them pressing down on us all over again.
And then, on February 14, the waiting ended.
The news we had feared, the news we had prayed against, came. Brit's body was recovered under the rubble. Through the grace of God and the tireless efforts of those at Hotel Montana, we were able to bring her home for a proper Christian burial. It was an ending. But in so many ways, it was also a beginning.
Those 33 days shattered us. But they also showed us what love is capable of. Love doesn't end. It doesn't disappear with loss. It transforms. It becomes something bigger than ourselves.
The first generation of children at Brit's Home is now writing their own story, carrying forward her legacy in ways we never could have imagined. Just as Brit dreamed of making a difference in Haiti, these children are becoming the change she envisioned. The number 19 holds special significance too, marking the age at which Brit's life of service was cut short, reminding us that even a brief life can create lasting impact.
Brit's last message wasn't just a text. It was a calling. A roadmap for healing. A mission to take the worst moment of our lives and turn it into something that could change the world.
And so, we built.
We built a home, a family, a place where Brit's light would never go out. Today, every child at Brit's Home, every volunteer, every single life touched by Be Like Brit is proof that love never dies. It just finds new ways to live on.
We are eternally grateful for those who worked those 33 days at the Hotel Montana, who helped in the mission and recovered her body so we could have a proper Christian burial. Their dedication and compassion will never be forgotten. To everyone who participated in the recovery efforts, who stood with us during those 33 days of waiting, who never stopped believing and praying – you are forever part of our story.
For many, February 14th is a day of love. For us, it is also a day of mourning. Though Brit had been gone since January 12, 2010, it was on this day that we finally received confirmation. It is a painful anniversary, but one we mark not just with grief but with purpose.
Brit's love for Haiti became her legacy, and we will continue to carry it forward. Because even in our darkest moments, love remains. And in Brit's honor, we choose love. Always.
