NEED TO KNOW<\/h3>\n\n- \n\n
Last month, Garrett Nicholas, a 21-year-old college junior, was fatally struck by a car near campus in West Chester, Pa.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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As his grieving mom navigates her first Mother’s Day without him, she says she’s grateful for the time they had<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
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“I feel like he was on loan to me, and the world had bigger things for him to do,” Traci Hafner tells PEOPLE<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
When Traci Hafner gave birth to her son, Garrett Nicholas, she called the blue-eyed newborn her \u201crainbow baby\u201d because she’d previously lost a child. Last month, her heart broke when the 21-year-old college junior was fatally hit by a car<\/a> near his campus in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\nAs the grieving mom navigates her first Mother’s Day without him, she says she’s grateful for the time they shared.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just never took anything for granted,\u201d says Hafner, a 52-year-old art director. \u201cAnd I’m so glad I didn’t, because he just felt like such a gift for me.\u201d<\/p>\n
She adds, \u201cI feel like he was on loan to me, and the world had bigger things for him to do.\u201d<\/p>\n
From the moment he was born, Hafner says her son had the biggest smile and a jovial personality.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe wasn’t a person who sought out the attention,\u201d she adds. \u201cIt just would come to him naturally, because he just had a warm presence about him.\u201d<\/p>\n
The young man walked her down the aisle in 2014 when she married her second husband, Travis Hafner. Together, the couple helped raise Nicholas as well as Travis’ two daughters, Bella and Macy.<\/p>\n
Both Nicholas and his stepsister decided to attend West Chester University in West Chester, where he studied business management.<\/p>\n
He dreamed of taking over Travis’ construction company one day\u00a0\u2014 but for his mom, her biggest hope was that he’d take the time to enjoy his life.<\/p>\n
He did just that at college, where he made several friends and forged even more friendships by joining a fraternity. Nicholas told his mom it was the best decision he’d ever made.<\/p>\n
In April, Hafner and her husband made the trip from Walnutport for Parents Weekend. On Saturday, April 11, the couple spent the day with Nicholas, meeting his friends and chatting with their parents.<\/p>\n
\u201cLater that day, he told friends it was the best day of his life,\u201d says Hafner. \u201cAs a mom, what more can you ask for?\u201d<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\nTraci Hafner (right) with her son.
Credit: Courtesy Traci Hafner<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
Early the next morning, on Sunday, April 12, Nicholas was crossing South High Street at Union Street when he was hit by a car, West Chester Borough Police told ABC affiliate WPVI<\/a>. He died at Paoli Hospital several hours later.<\/p>\nThe driver pulled over about a block away and has been cooperating with authorities, according to the outlet.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt’s a terrible situation,\u201d says Hafner. \u201cI feel for the family.\u201d<\/p>\n
The West Chester Borough Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.<\/p>\n\n![\"Garrett](\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/tnOM_3HRuEcixIZgYO_qEg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTcyMDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/people_218\/f04a08326e01a46f4cb1f92638b37f4c\"\/)
Last month, Garrett Nicholas, a 21-year-old college junior, was fatally struck by a car near campus in West Chester, Pa.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
As his grieving mom navigates her first Mother’s Day without him, she says she’s grateful for the time they had<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n
“I feel like he was on loan to me, and the world had bigger things for him to do,” Traci Hafner tells PEOPLE<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
When Traci Hafner gave birth to her son, Garrett Nicholas, she called the blue-eyed newborn her \u201crainbow baby\u201d because she’d previously lost a child. Last month, her heart broke when the 21-year-old college junior was fatally hit by a car<\/a> near his campus in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n As the grieving mom navigates her first Mother’s Day without him, she says she’s grateful for the time they shared.<\/p>\n \u201cI just never took anything for granted,\u201d says Hafner, a 52-year-old art director. \u201cAnd I’m so glad I didn’t, because he just felt like such a gift for me.\u201d<\/p>\n She adds, \u201cI feel like he was on loan to me, and the world had bigger things for him to do.\u201d<\/p>\n From the moment he was born, Hafner says her son had the biggest smile and a jovial personality.<\/p>\n \u201cHe wasn’t a person who sought out the attention,\u201d she adds. \u201cIt just would come to him naturally, because he just had a warm presence about him.\u201d<\/p>\n The young man walked her down the aisle in 2014 when she married her second husband, Travis Hafner. Together, the couple helped raise Nicholas as well as Travis’ two daughters, Bella and Macy.<\/p>\n Both Nicholas and his stepsister decided to attend West Chester University in West Chester, where he studied business management.<\/p>\n He dreamed of taking over Travis’ construction company one day\u00a0\u2014 but for his mom, her biggest hope was that he’d take the time to enjoy his life.<\/p>\n He did just that at college, where he made several friends and forged even more friendships by joining a fraternity. Nicholas told his mom it was the best decision he’d ever made.<\/p>\n In April, Hafner and her husband made the trip from Walnutport for Parents Weekend. On Saturday, April 11, the couple spent the day with Nicholas, meeting his friends and chatting with their parents.<\/p>\n \u201cLater that day, he told friends it was the best day of his life,\u201d says Hafner. \u201cAs a mom, what more can you ask for?\u201d<\/p>\n Traci Hafner (right) with her son. Early the next morning, on Sunday, April 12, Nicholas was crossing South High Street at Union Street when he was hit by a car, West Chester Borough Police told ABC affiliate WPVI<\/a>. He died at Paoli Hospital several hours later.<\/p>\n The driver pulled over about a block away and has been cooperating with authorities, according to the outlet.<\/p>\n \u201cIt’s a terrible situation,\u201d says Hafner. \u201cI feel for the family.\u201d<\/p>\n The West Chester Borough Police Department did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.<\/p>\n
Credit: Courtesy Traci Hafner<\/i><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n