There were smiles, laughter, joy and good ol’ fashioned fun the day my client, Michelle came out to Sky Ranch to be photographed with her visiting sisters back in August 2006. The sisters held hands and waded through fields of wildflowers. They snuggled up close…closer-than-ever. You would never know that among three young and beautiful sisters, one of them was sick, very sick. Vivacious middle sister Amy had recently been diagnosed with an inoperable brain tumor and was told she had 5-8 years to live.
Seeing and photographing Michelle, Amy and Angela that day, the reality didn’t seem real. The day was perfect, everything was perfect. That day. Three and a half years ago. When I received the news that Amy passed away on January 2nd, my heart sank. For Amy and a beautiful life cut much too short, for her sisters Michelle and Angela, for her parents Frank and Nancy, for her brother Fr. Michael, and for Amy’s devoted husband, Todd and his children.
Sister Michelle said it best when she shared with me her observations of her brave sister, Amy…”I have to say that we (her family and friends) never heard her complain or ask “why me?”. She spent the five years she had after her diagnosis preparing to meet God and figuring out what was really important in life, and when my dad asked her about a month ago if she were afraid to die, she said no, and she was at peace with whatever God had in store for her- even death. She was generous and unselfish, and loved her job as a middle school special education teacher. In reading the cards people were sending after her passing, I think she will most be remembered for her love of God, her smile and laughter.”
(above: Amy, Michelle and Angela)
(above: Michelle, Amy and Angela)
…her smile and laughter…and I will remember her for the same.
by Susann
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