It was October 20, 2013, in Forest Grove, Oregon when an SUV drove right through a pile of leaves in the street. Unbeknownst to the teenage girl driving her boyfriend and brother home, 11-year-old Abigail Robinson and her 6-year-old step-sister, Anna Dieter-Eckerdt, were playing underneath. Anna died at the scene of the hit-and-run, while Abby died a day later after she had succumbed to her injuries. The tragedy left a deep scar on the community and forever altered the lives of the children’s parents, Susan Dieter-Robinson and her husband Tom Robinson.
During the 2014 court hearing, the driver, Cinthya Garcia-Cisneros, expressed great remorse for her actions and was visibly emotional throughout the proceedings. She told investigators that she heard a bump while driving but did not realize the severity of what had occurred until much later. Unfortunately, despite learning what had happened, she did not turn herself in to the authorities. Instead, police tracked her down by her car, and she was arrested the day after the accident. Despite the devastation the sudden loss left the parents with, the mother chose to forgive the driver, as Susan stated in court. This choice of forgiveness marked the beginning of the couple’s journey to turn tragedy into a movement that would spread love and kindness far beyond their immediate surroundings.
Rather than being consumed by grief, the Robinsons decided to honor their daughters’ lives by creating something beautiful from their loss. Susan began crafting “Love Rocks,” stones covered in heart-shaped fabric. Though she initially intended this to be a simple tribute to Anna and Abby, the idea unexpectedly grew into a worldwide phenomenon. The simple act of placing heart-decorated rocks around the community caught on, eventually spreading throughout the United States, and then reaching globally. People began exchanging Love Rocks with friends and loved ones, and used them as a symbol to celebrate life and spread love. What started as a memorial gesture turned into a movement that touched countless hearts. The inspiring story of the two girls motivated others to hold their loved ones closer.
The Robinson family’s mission to preserve Anna and Abby’s memory extended beyond Love Rocks. More than seven years after the tragedy, a local park was transformed in honor of the sisters. Formerly known as Rogers Park, the space was renovated and renamed “Anna and Abby’s Yard.” The transformation was made possible through the support of the City of Forest Grove and generous donations from the surrounding community. The park was designed with the intention of invoking imagination and joy in the children who play there. Various elements within the park, such as a carved wooden dragon, a bookshelf, and a giant Love Rock, symbolize the love that Anna and Abby brought into the world during their brief lives.
Today, the Robinson family continues to find ways to carry forward the girls’ legacy. Susan now works as an art teacher at Forest Hills Lutheran Christian School and updates her family blog. The couple now have a 5-year-old daughter named Alice, who brings new light into their lives.
