Low Life Story of the Week

While undergoing numerous bouts of chemotherapy for brain cancer, 4-year-old Erin Roderick and her stuffed purple hippo were inseparable. 

A symbol of comfort for Erin and her family during the long hours of treatment, the stuffed purple hippo continued to help soothe the Roderick family in the days after Erin’s death in March 2009 and they placed Erin’s favorite stuffed animal in her casket during her burial at Forestvale Cemetery. 

The image of a purple hippo continued to bring comfort to the Roderick family as a friend gave the Rodericks a statue of a hippo ballerina that was painted purple, Erin’s favorite color, and placed at Erin’s grave.

Once a symbol of comfort, the image of the hippo ballerina statue only brings anger and sadness to Michelle Roderick, Erin’s mom. 

While visiting the cemetery on what would have been Erin’s ninth birthday last month, Roderick discovered the statue was missing from Erin’s headstone. Roderick’s husband, James, spoke with workers at the cemetery who recognized the statue, but told Roderick’s husband they did not move it.

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