Claudia Alicia Martinez Foster

Proud to Be Big Sister
As the oldest in a family of girls, Claudia Martinez Foster promised her parents she would always look after her three younger sisters. One day, she told them, she was even going to give the Martinez family its big wish: a baby boy. Married almost a year, the 26-year-old assistant broker for Cantor Fitzgerald had already begun, with her husband, to pick out baby names. They were planning to buy a house and start a family later this year. She liked the name Carlos, in honor of her father. Her husband could not decide.

"My daughter was a true family person," said Blanca Martinez. "She was proud to be the big sister, always helping me with my youngest, taking her to the movies, bowling, shopping. She liked to call what she did 'sister power.' "

Watching such a young, promising life fade away has made the grieving even more trying. "She has so much to live for, and to go like this," Mrs. Martinez said. "I pray for God to give me strength to accept her death. But as a mother I don't know how to let go. I want to keep hoping for a miracle."