The Story of One Sparkling Woman

On Thursday, October 2nd, 2008, 56-year-old Lynne Boyer received the unexpected news that she won the Underwood's Fine Jewelers 50th Anniversary Customer Appreciation Drawing for September, an exquisite pair of sapphire earrings. "This makes this day such a happy memory!" she said delightedly with an amiable, infectious grin.

For the past several decades, Lynne has endured October 2nd bravely as the anniversary of a very somber day in her life's history--the shocking Friday afternoon in 1970 when she lost both of her parents in the untimely plane crash of the Wichita State University football team. Lynne was only 18 at the time. She heard about the accident on the radio, and it wasn't long before she received the devastating news that both her mother and her father were among the casualties. A college freshman, she promptly dropped out of school to care for her six younger siblings, five sisters and one brother.

"I'm known as the oldest, the wisest and the shortest of all the siblings," she quipped with a laugh. Lynne stayed at home for about six months and never returned to earn her college degree. She works as a legal secretary at Fayetteville's Eldridge Law Firm, and she confesses to being a writer at heart. Her grandfather kept a diary during his lifetime, and his entries were published posthumously. "Just like my grandfather," she admitted, "I love to write. Right now I'm working on an autobiography."

As the pages of her book likely will reveal, Lynne has triumphed--with impeccable grace and astounding positivity--over many hardships, trials and tribulations. At age 11 Lynne was diagnosed with juvenile diabetes, a brutal disease that she has learned to manage for 45 years. During her short time in college she began her battle with epilepsy. Around 28 years ago, she started having complications with a kidney and required a transplant. One of Lynne's sisters donated a kidney for the lifesaving operation. Additionally, Lynne not only has survived breast cancer but also has lived through a heart attack and triple coronary bypass surgery.

"Despite all these obstacles," noted Craig Underwood with genuine admiration, "Lynne has an incredibly positive outlook on life."

When reflecting on her tale of survival, Lynne remarked, "I have a very strong faith and a close family. Yes, I've been through a lot, and I'm happy to be here to encourage others." She paused briefly before counting her most prized blessing: "I also have the world's greatest husband. Mark and I have been married for 26 wonderful years."

The sapphire earrings are Lynne's third piece from Underwood's Fine Jewelers. Her engagement ring showcases three "gorgeous, gorgeous" Underwoood's diamonds, and Mark also gave her an Underwood's amethyst necklace that she adores. "In jewelry, his taste is fabulous!" she declared.

Lynne loves her lucky sapphire earrings, not simply because they're beautiful, but because their story gives her a reason to redefine October 2nd as a day with room for happiness.

"I've made a practice of sparkling inside, and now I can sparkle outside with my sapphire earrings," she said, her eyes and smile already sparkling.