Everything, Nothing, and I'm a Middle Child

It is a lovely photo.

My prayers are with you and your family.

she is fabulous. and you are incredible. my tears, prayers, love, tears, and heart.

i don't think i will ever be able to read the healing prayer for women without thinking of you and your maman.

love,
and a full heart,
leila

Hi Mara,

That's a lovely photo. The ones that Nathan sent me of her at her wedding are beautiful as well. There's this one where she's about to eat a chocolate truffle or something, with this look on her face that I can't describe other than absolute bliss. And not just because of the truffle! Although that looked pretty tasty too.

Mara, my thoughts and my heart is with you, Nathan, Rae, Mendon and your Dad. That kind of love is what life was meant for living.

Lots of love,

Ingrida

Your mom's and your (all of the rest of your family) strength is something that I greatly admire. I was talking today to Sandy about how much of an impact you've all had on me for the past 21 years or so. I feel truly blessed to know your mother, and to think of her as "mom" as well. When we were there, it was amazing, but walking into your house last month made me feel not sad, but grateful to have had your mother as a small part of my life. Stephanie, thank you for that, and for sharing that strength with your family. I wish you peace on your journey.

Mara, Rachel,Nathan, Mendon and Dusty,
It saddens us that your mom and wife is about to leave--- Over the years her strength and determination was shown in raising all you wonderful children even if it wasn't the social norm, what she felt in heart is what she did (she did a great job). Dusty she has been so worried about you--(she kept saying "ask Dusty how he is doing". I will miss your mom, I've ALWAYS LOOKED UP TO HER, SHE IS MY FAVORITE OUTLAW. We do not want to intrude at this time, but if you need anything at all we are just a phone call away.
Our hearts are heavy,
Much Love,
Nadine, John and Family

What a lovely picture

Mara, we are thinking of all of you and praying for you. We are so glad you have each other and can be together during these days.

I love this photo. I wish there was time to get to know my aunt Stephanie, but at least there is time to send you all my love. Please let her know I am thinking of her.

Wow, Caitlin, you've always been a myth to me ... stories of another time ... it's wonderful to see you here!

Stephanie,

I wish my cancel stamp could work for you now! But, as I know it can't, I have passed your strength, your positive outlook over the past few years to a friend of mine. She is the wife of Jacob's baseball coach. The mother of twin 8 year old boys and a six year old. Back during the start of football season, her husband went into the hospital for an appendix operation. Unfortunately, it was much more than that. He was found with a rare form of cancer that only about 15 people have ever been treated for. Her husband immediately started chemo, heavy chemo, and will soon be heading to Pittsburgh for heavy duty surgery and chemo that will be poured into him. With her young children, she was faced with an uncertainty. I told her your story of strength, hope, and postive outlook now matter how you were feeling. Although you know how I have a difficult time discussing the C word, my friends continued to ask about your strength and hopes for you. She was overwhelmed by your story and it gave her the ability to face what her family will be going through. She continued through football asking about you, although she never knew who you were. Her husband was able to show up at practice each and every night and your story has helped them remain positive throughout this ordeal. I say soon they will be heading to Pittsburg, and that soon is next week. I want you to know that you have helped people who you have never met accept their ability to have the strength to go on. They have said their prayers for you and as he fights this disease, you will always remain in their thoughts so they can continue to make the best of what is to come.

May peace be with you and God bless you. Thank you for always telling me you were good when I asked how you were, even though I knew what you were faced with. Your strength is deeply admired. And I will definately miss all your emails..:)

Dear Stephanie...

May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.

To Stephanie and all her family....I've never spoken with anyone in your family except Stephanie. She and I "met" on the "My Cancer" blog. She and I were both interviewed for the Discovery special that aired last May. She was on the program, I was "background". At one point, I sent an e-mail to Leroy Seivers asking that he ask Stephanie if she'd be willing to speak or exchange e-mails. We did both. This spring and summer, we were both going through tough times, Stephanie with pain and discomfort, and dealing with the knowledge that except for palliation, her cancer was no longer treatable, I with the discovery of a tumor in my liver, which ultimately turned out to be a second, very rare, and thankfully, non-aggressive form of cancer. We've been able to support one another via the phone and occasional e-mail. The last she and I spoke, before Christmas, she was weak, and her voice had become weak as well. I asked her if she was afraid to die, and she said no, she was just afraid of being in pain while she was dying. I'm hopeful that the hospice nurses and doctors are keeping that fear from being realized. I am sad that Stephanie and I will never be able to meet face to face, but I'm thankful that we were able to "meet" and be sisters in other ways. I wish her a light and love filled transition, and comfort and peace to all who love her and will miss her so dearly. If she is concious, please tell her that I've been praying for you all, and bless her on her way. Nancy K. Clark

To Stephanie and her family

You all are in my prayers and that's a beautiful picture

Your mother and your family are in our prayers. We think a lot about you all. Much love, John and Natascha

I know your mother through Leroy Siever's blog. My mother died of ovarian cancer three years ago, and your posts and your mother's in November remind me so much of our experience. It is so sad, but looking back, I treasure the memories of those last days and what we shared. Her death reminded me a lot of childbirth. That said, I miss her terribly, am crying as I type this. I want to let you and your family know that I am thinking about you during this sad time. I recently read some pieces about grieving which described the feeling of yearning we have for our loved ones after they die. That really speaks to me. I have decided that the greater the yearning, the longer that person lives in wonderful memories. My children and I share memories of my mother on a regular basis. That reflects the impact she had on our lives.
With love and peace,
Mary A. Sullivan
Charlottesville, VA

To Stephanie and her family
You ALL are in my thoughts and prayers. It is funny how this journey (cancer) will connect each one of us to another. I always looked to see if you had a post on Leroys blog. I would read them and would wonder about you, how you were doing, what you were doing, how your doctors visits were going and most of the time I would ask God to bless you at that time with what your need was.
I became aware of the blog after the Discovery Special and read almost every day..but always looked for you, Stephanie. I do so admire the style, grace you always betray. My pray for you a peaceful and pain free end. And for your family, I pray God will bless you with the peace that passes all understanding.I pray God will hold you all in His loving arms. So dear friend, though we never met,other then Leroys blog, I say goodbye to you in this life. And look forward to reading your blog and catching up on the days I did wonder. Thank you for sharing your strength, your words of wisdom and just being you.
In His Hands,
Sandy

We are praying for your family...
with love,
tahmina, amir and azamat

Dearest Stephanie and your wonderful family,

I saw you on "Living with Cancer" with a young family member by your side. It broke my heart. I have a very young daughter, and my only significant desire in this life, is to live long enough to see her grow up. I am so thankful that your family was able to have you by their side for so long. I don't know you well, but I will never forget you. May you rest in the arms of angels, your pain gone. May God Bless you All. I love you.

To Stephanie and family:
I'm a long time member of Leroy's blog community so I feel I've "known" Stephanie for so long.
I wish I had the gift of words that Leroy and the people who preceded me in their notes, have.
I just wanted to add my voice to wish Stephanie a love-filled transition with pain controlled. To her adoring family.......what a privilege it has been for me to eavesdrop on your thoughts by reading your blogs and feel the love you have for your parents and one another.
I wish you a gentle acceptance of your mother's passing. What a legacy she leaves behind.

I'm so glad I took this picture of you. We had no idea at the time what the abnormalities in your blood were leading to... ignorance was bliss. It was a worry free time in Caesarea when this photo was snapped, and we walked you ragged throughout Haifa-- usually up the mountain. I'm so glad we were able to share the piercing glories through the clouds on that perfect day in Beit Shean, and again trudging up to the top of the tell overlooking the Jordan River Valley. One could almost understand why wars are still fought to this very day for that small stretch of land. I'm really not at all sad for you, I just miss you... and I wonder if you had gotten enough good chocolate and tea during your all too brief life on this world. You said you were ready, so I assume you had.