Park, who is an elementary school teacher, has now published a new children\u2019s book that she hopes will help kids who are grieving the loss of a loved one or pet.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have a lot of kids from Ukraine and Syria, refugee kids, and they lost their dad or their mom or grandma,\u201d she said. \u201cMaybe this book can be for anyone who needs a reminder that love never fades, and healing is possible, and that we\u2019re never truly alone.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 95-page book Keen & Loki retells memories the couple shared, most of them tightly intertwined with their energetic Labrador retriever. In a previous interview, Park said the couple saw Loki as their son, especially because they were unable to have children of their own.<\/p>\n
Scenes in the book include adventures of hiking and skiing \u2013 favourite pastimes of Lau\u2019s \u2013 along with the first time Park introduced Loki to her classroom. They are accompanied by soft and colourful illustrations by a friend of Park\u2019s who lives in Korea.<\/p>\n
Park said she had the idea to write a children\u2019s book while Lau was still alive.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was thinking of writing a children\u2019s book in 2022, and I actually told Keen about it,\u201d she said. \u201cBecause I\u2019m a teacher, right? And I love writing.\u201d<\/p>\n
Park said Lau was really supportive of the idea, and gave her some advice on how to approach writing it.<\/p>\n
Excited by the theme of featuring their dog Loki, who brought the couple joy but also sometimes got into troublesome situations, she started writing.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe first two parts \u2013 the first day at school for Loki \u2026 and then the second, when Loki jumped out of the car \u2013 I actually wrote them when Keen was still alive,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
But before she could finish her book, the unthinkable happened. On that day in May, Loki was washing off some mud in the creek when the strong current beneath the surface pulled him away.<\/p>\n
Without a second thought, Lau jumped in to save Loki. But the force of the water was too strong and swept them both downstream. At one point, Loki made it out of the water, but then went back in when he couldn\u2019t find Lau.<\/p>\n
Hours later, both of their bodies were found by first responders.<\/p>\n
Park\u2019s book captures these heartbreaking moments. But the following pages also capture the outpouring of love for Lau from the community, and the way his memory will live on \u2013 at a West Vancouver fitness circuit<\/a> named in his honour and in Park\u2019s heart.<\/p>\n These parts of the book were very hard for her to write.<\/p>\n \u201cIt took me a lot of encouragement,\u201d Park said, adding that she cried through much of it.<\/p>\n Even in death, it was Lau who kept her moving forward, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cI really wanted to to heal and honour [his] memory,\u201d she said. \u201cOne way I found comfort was through writing. That definitely helped me through this really difficult time.\u201d<\/p>\n Park says family and friends provided huge support after losing loved ones<\/p>\n At the back of the book, the reader is prompted with several questions. One asks how Lisa stayed strong, even when she was very sad.<\/p>\n When asked the question herself, Park said her friends and family provided a huge amount of support.<\/p>\n After the accident, Park moved back with her family in Korea for the summer break.<\/p>\n \u201cThen we travelled to Hawaii in December [2023], during winter break, and we went to Europe for two months during summer break and spring break,\u201d she said. \u201cThey tried to keep me busy and always said, \u2018You\u2019re not alone \u2013 we\u2019re here for you.\u201d<\/p>\n Park said she also hears frequently from her brother\u2019s family, her niece and nephew, and friends from around the world.<\/p>\n \u201cThey message me every day about how I\u2019m doing, checking in on me,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n Along with the fitness circuit and her new book, Park has also set up the Keen and Loki Memorial Scholarship<\/a>, which has already helped two North Shore students.<\/p>\n \u201cWe now have three things to really remember them,\u201d she said. \u201cPeople will be so inspired by their bravery, [to] do the brave and kind acts like Keen and Loki did.\u201d<\/p>\n You can learn more about Park\u2019s book on her website<\/a>, and donate to the Keen and Loki Scholarship endowment fund via the West Vancouver Foundation<\/a>.<\/p>\n [email\u00a0protected]<\/a> \u00a0
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