Father finds inspiring video 16-year-old made before death

ABC 4 Utah broadcast with Nadia Crow  click on the link to the left to watch the story

SPRINGVILLE, Utah (ABC 4 Utah)- The death of a child will rock a family to its core.  Today, a Springville father wants to share his daughter's legacy through video.  16-year-old Reesa Kammerman died almost one year ago in a car crash.  Now, one discovery will let Reesa's message live on.

"Named her Reesa, it's Latin for laughter and she was all that," said Michael Kammerman.

But Reesa Kammerman's light began to dim when her mother left her family.  That meant Reesa stepped up to help her day care for her four little brothers.

"Sometimes at night, she would play the guitar for us and sometimes she would stay with us until we'd fall asleep," said Isaac Kammerman.

The girl who was hiding a dark secret.  Reesa testified in court that her stepfather physically and sexually abused her.

"The cutting, and the self harming, and she became bulimic," said Kammerman.

After years of treatment centers and counseling, she started to turn things around.

"When she could sing and dance and play the guitar that's when she was happiest. I think her music helped her cope a lot," said Kammerman.

It was at that time her father believes she made a video.  She told the audience about her troubled past. But the video also includes a turning point.  Reesa wrote, "I couldn't be happier... I have a million reasons to live." 

"It showed what happened in her life to something good in her life," said Kammerman.

But one night halted all her progress.  Reesa was involved in a terrible car crash.  The doctor told her father...

"He said your daughters been hurt really bad. He told me about all of her injuries. And he said the likelihood of her surviving was very slim," said Kammerman.

For 16 days Reesa fought her last fight succumbing to her injuries on June 28, 2013.  About three weeks ago, Michael discovered the video Reesa made.  Now, he's sharing it with the world.

"Whether it's helping someone to prevent them from hurting themselves, committing suicide, or having a parent see that there's hope," said Kammerman.

"I don't want you to feel bad for me or pity me but there is one catch...forgive," said wrote Reesa.