On Nov. 9, Carrie Hilliker, an 18-year-old NIU student, was killed in a car accident.

Writing on behalf of the Hilliker family, I sincerely and whole-heartedly extend thanks and gratitude to everyone at NIU who has helped make this situation a little more bearable for Carrie’s family.

Carrie’s mother Becky called me Monday, telling me how wonderful her family’s interactions with NIU officials, faculty members and Carrie’s fellow students have been since Carrie’s death.

So to President John Peters, Student Affairs, Housing and Dining, Carrie’s fellow students and to anyone else who reached out to the Hilliker family in these past days: Thank you for helping make such a difficult situation a little easier to handle.

Carrie’s mother expressed to me how beautiful some of the notions made by the above individuals have been. NIU provided two buses to transport students to Carrie’s visitation. Carrie’s math class sent a card signed by her classmates and teacher. Individuals in NIU offices have been nothing but extremely helpful. Some paid tribute to Carrie’s life by setting up a memorial beside the road where the accident took place.

These people deserve thanks from all of us for stepping up on behalf of NIU and doing what they can to ease the pain of Carrie’s loved ones in their time of difficulty. There is hardly enough anyone can do to help make this any easier for Carrie’s family, but the actions we take when words fall short will last forever.

Thank you, NIU, for answering the call and responding as a community should in a time such as this.

As I told Carrie’s mother on the phone Monday, nothing anyone can do will be enough, but there is nothing anyone won’t do to try.

Carrie, you are missed.