Fear can take the form of almost anything. Whether it be through the words people say or the actions they take, fear is among the deadliest feelings to ever overtake a person’s senses. To manage that fear and make the most of it is by far the most powerful thing a person can do.
Eloise Ann “Wheezy” Owen was a girl who had nothing short of power. She was born on June 15th, 2006, and was shortly diagnosed with a severe condition called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, mostly where the left ventricle of her heart never fully formed. After just being alive for 13 days, Eloise had her first open-heart surgery, which would start her journey with it leading to almost 3 more over the next 5 years of her life.
Even though Eloise had ½ of a heart, the fear of the unknown never took her down. To many, she was an inspiration. She was involved in every activity at Southside Elementary that there was to offer, and she also found a love for dance, theatre, and sports. She was a force to be reckoned with, and she faced fear with a smile on her face.
Sadly, Eloise passed on January 7th, 2016, after an extreme series of pulmonary hemorrhages. While her passing hit the community of Cabot hard, everyone knew they couldn’t let it bring them down. Her mother, Sarah Owen, along with many others, created a non-profit organization named Walk for Wheezy in her honor. This organization would raise money through scheduled walks for Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
Coincidentally, the walk’s end lined up perfectly with what would have been Eloise’s senior year. At the last walk this year, it was announced that the organization was able to raise over 500,000 dollars for Arkansas Children’s Hospital.
Though the walks ended this year, much is still being done in Eloise’s honor. Seussical, Eloise’s last production with Cabot Theatre before her passing, was chosen as the program’s Spring musical to honor her love of theatre.
Even though Eloise is no longer with us, her kind heart, dedication, independence, and ferocious mindset will always have a place in the hearts of not just the Cabot community but citizens across the nation. For people struggling with fear, Eloise will continue to be a leader and role model for many generations to come.
