To Minnie's family, Your Wife, Mom and Daughter will be missed so much. Minnie helped me so many times with this dreaded disease. She was a fighter and I am sure she put up a good one this time, too. I loved her so much and enjoyed the Oral Cancer Walk she organized. She was an awesome woman. I look forward to seeing her again in heaven. May she rest in peace....Love, Carol
p.s. Amy, thank you for always being so kind and answering my emails about your Mom and if I can be of any help, do not hesitate to let me know.

Amy,
My heartfelt thoughts and deepest symapthy to you, your sisters and your whole family.
I share the loss and sadness that so many have expressed. I also will celebrate and remember her strength, wisdom and spirit that inspired so many people.
Minnie has changed the lives and outlooks of many people and will be deeply missed.
I will certainly always remeber her compassion and positive spirit. I learned a lot from your mother and will miss her.
My prayers go out to all of you.

Mike

To Amy and the rest of Minnie's family,

I read about your Mother's hospitalization while I was sitting in the waiting room at MD Anderson to see my doctors for my 2 1/2 year checkup. I felt stricken, because although I never had the priviledge of communicating with Minnie directly, I read so many of her posts to others and also the ones about how much her family meant to her, and felt I knew her through those.

Later that night, after arriving home with an all clear from all my docs, I told my husband how lucky we were and how we had to keep remembering to live each day to the fullest. I just read Gary's post and his words say it best:
"This is the time to love one another, assess your own life and appreciate what you have been gifted with. Honor your spouse and your family (as Minnie so proudly did). Minnies passing is a hard lesson for all of us to make everything we can out of each day (and in her memory)."

My deepest sympathy, thoughts and prayers to all of you...

Amy,

I first crossed paths with Mama Minnie, Broadsword, Scuby and Anna during my treatment in September of 2003 on Delphi Forums. I knew instantly that of all things in life, we shared our love of Christ and our love of family. Over the years we had talked so many times of meeting face to face yet time is this elusive thing that has no boundaries. I planned a trip to Rescue with eager anticipation of moving my mother's best friend back to Texas but especially of that magical moment of meeting your mother. I missed the walk because I was too ashamed to admit I couldn't afford it after not working for several years because of my mother's illness, my Hep C treatment and my cancer. The week I was planning the trip, my friend had a fatal heart attack.

This summer I became obsessed with (MY) time and I had told your mother I would find a way to visit her yet now my selfishness has prevented that, at least in this secular world we live in.

Know in your heart that your mother always showed the love of Christ in all she did, all she said and all she lived. Her recent battles were something she faced head on but my cowardice prevented me from being able to face what she was going through. I worked so hard to get people to donate to Minnie's Miracle and really enjoyed the focus and especially the love that surrounded her family in even this endeavor.

I cry for your family because my heart is so heavy yet I smile because I know her love will always be with all of you. I also smile because I know she looked into the eyes of Christ as she heard the word's we all want to hear, "Well done my good and faithful servant!"

Today I pray that God will provide your entire circle of family and friends with comfort and peace; that He will surround you with the many people that have walked by your side through this journey and above all He will fill that special spot in your heart with His love.

I thank you and your family for sharing your wonderful mother with all of us and I also pray that each day will be even a little bit easier and the pain you are experiencing now will be less every day.

I offer my deepest sympathy and condolences for your family and as everyone else is saying, the world is a better and brighter place because of your mother.

Ed

Amy,
I am so sorry for your loss. I absolutely adored your mom, she helped me and so many others here. Here is something she shared with me, hope it helps. God Bless You all and forever our Dear Minnie.


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#2115 - 16/09/07 07:22 PM Re: Hello
minniea
Patient Advocate (1000+ posts)

Registered: 02/08/03
Posts: 1627
Loc: va. beach Hi Donna,
Thank you for the PM, sometimes it's nice to talk "off" the board too.
I come across as strong as I can on the board, and I usually AM strong........but, like you, I have my moments of fear and weakness!
We play the hand we're dealt, don't we? And we play it the best we can, with what we have. God already knows what's going to happen so I trust him, I put it in His hands long ago. I'm like you though, when I'm fearful feeling, I just can't seem to remember how to pray as well, it's tough to explain but I think you understand.

Take care Donna and always know that the days get better and these situations in life always come to an end. I'm thinking of you and your mom.

Love,
Minnie

---------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Min,
Since you are with our friends Petey, Bren and Robin, give them a hug and a kiss from me. I'll miss you always.
Love,
Donna

Gary, I conquered my first round of tears at Minnie's death and came back to read your post which brought tears all over again. It was a lovely post. You are right that the absolute best way to honor Minnie is to enjoy our days and moments here on earth, love our family, live our faith, and be compassionate to others who are struggling.

Amy, I valued the interactions I had with your mom because of all the things other people have mentioned here; her deep faith, her overall positivity, her obvious love of her family and concern for other people she met here and all the work she did to help other people going through this. But I will add that one of the reasons I will miss her deeply in addition to all that is that she was such an honest and authentic person. We did a couple of PMs back and forth at one time, when she and I were both struggling with feelings about being on a feeding tube, and she was very frustrated by it right at that point, and said clearly that she didn't think anyone going through cancer treatment should have to always act positive if they were feeling discouraged or like they needed a moment of self-pity. I recall her saying that somewhere in one of her public postings as well though I can't recall what thread it took place in.

In her posts and her pms as well as what she posted to her Carepages, what I loved about Minnie was she let us see her when she was scared and when she was discouraged and was as honest about being in those places as she was about being hopeful and having faith. Her post to Donna above is a great indication of that. As a result, I never felt I had to be anything other than what I was with her and that she would care about me and understand anyway. I think that's the impression she made on most people and I'm sure that's part of what you'll miss about her as a mother.

Amy, last year when your mom found out she had a recurrence I sent her a pm asking her if she minded if I lit a candle for her in our church service and she said she would be honored by that. I will light a candle for her memory in tomorrow's service and for all of her family surviving her. You were truly what she cared about most and was justifiably proud of. Your mom will live on in my memory as long as I live.

Nelie

Oh Nelie,
That is a wonderful idea! I will go also and light a candle. There isn't much to help a grieving heart except time, memories and family and most importantly the love you shared with that person.
Gary, Ed, and....so many....each of your posts struck me as so true, and so very healing. I hope all the love shared here aide in the pain they all are suffering inside.
On a personal note, I pray that Minnie finds my brother-in-law's mother, Marian. She was just diagnosed Tuesday with lung and liver cancer, she died 12 hours later. Both of these women were such loving wives, mother's, grandmothers, sisters and friends...I hope they can meet and share in God's love together for a moment and each of their loved ones can be embraced by that love eternally.
God Bless Everyone. I'm on my way to light a candle.
Amy, I hope today is a little easier for you all.
Much love,
Donna

Amy, Minnie helped me thru many hard times and I owe her a debt of gratitude and will for the rest of my time on earth. She was a very thoughtful and gracious lady. The family has all of my sympathy. God Bless you all.

I would like to write several eloquent paragraphs as many here have done so well but I will simply say what comes to my mind today as I mourn her death and and think about her legacy here.

The love for her family was so apparent each time she "talked" to us here. She always seemed more worried about them than herself and her illness.

She had so much common sense. Her replys to everyone cut to the chase and I loved that.

I am devastated that she is gone and I will miss her. I will pray that your family, Amy..your dad and all your siblings find strength and love and peace in the coming days and months.

Minnie, God's speed!

Deb

What an amazing woman that we have lost. If we were to look in the OCF pages there are hundreds of messages from her. Not counting the private messages that she sent to so many of us. Grateful for her...educated at times by her...comforted by her.
Thank you Minnie- I hope your dancing in heaven!
Jennie