Our dear friends and family -- I am so sorry to tell you that Laura passed away peacefully this morning. She is whole again in body and spirit and watching over her beloved children, family, and friends. I am so happy that she will no longer have to endure the difficulties of her courageous fight -- although she would have continued without complaint!
On Friday, as she was going through another set of MRI and CAT scans (in a very weakened state) I told her yet again that I was so sorry she was having to do this... she replied that she would "do whatever she had to do" and she also told me she was at peace with whatever was going to happen. In the end, the progression of her disease in the last few weeks was an unstoppable force -- a force we believe even the drug trial wouldn't have stopped.
There are so many things that I want to say to all of you -- and I am certain I cannot think through them all tonight. But, there are a few to start with.
First and most importantly, to those of you who are in your own battle with breast cancer. Laura would be devastated to think that her passing would cause you any doubt or fear. Laura won so many battles along the way, she overcame her disease many times. She was an unbelievable fighter and wouldn't tolerate pity from others or herself. The best way you can honor her is to continue your fight with determination, hope, peace, and joy in living your life. She said to all of us that "every cancer is unique". It is, and you can beat it... so do it.
Second, to those of you who have supported and prayed for her and us -- I am forever grateful. Your support has lifted us and continues to provide us comfort. We are going to be fine. Morgan and Jack are beginning to come to terms with this. Morgan was very upset at first, but she understands her Mommy's spirit is still with her. We are sitting on the couch watching a movie together -- and she just ate her second bowl of ice cream! She is so sweet. Jack has asked me several times if we will get to see Mommy again when we go to heaven (of course we will!). Both have asked me why this happen. I tell them the truth, that there is no reason that we can understand. But, we are all at peace and with each other and our incredible family.
Third, to you all -- It is ok to be sad.... but not for too long. Laura never was!
I will post the specifics of the arrangements when we make them. Likely the service will be held Thursday or Friday.
And, I will continue to post for Laura. I will update you on how we are doing, and on our recollections of Laura and the lessons she taught all of us. I am so proud of her.
These posts will still come signed by her, as I am using her account. I think that is how she would want it.
Peace and God's grace be with you all.
- Michael
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24 comments:
Thanks for the update Michael. I am in complete shock that she is no longer with us. But that is how Laura would want it - like you said, she was optimistic and fighting until the end.
I have known hundreds of women with breast cancer....and known several that have lost their battles. But I have never EVER met anyone like Laura. Her FAITH in God and TRUST and ATTITUDE was unparalleled. I am gratefaul that there is a saint in heaven that can now pray for me and lead me through the rest of my journey on earth. Hugs to you, Morgan, and Jack. Someday in the future, I'd love to share some of the writings she sent to me with all of you.
Rose Kopecky
Michael,
Laura taught us how courageous and strong a person can be. She found within herself a fighting nature she probably didn't know existed and she touched us all so deeply. You have shown how supportive, loving and unselfish a person can be. You were just what she needed in this life and you are just what the little goats need to continue the journey. :-)
Thank you for finding Laura and bringing her into our lives. Together you brought two incredible children into this world for us all to love. Thank you for who you are, all that you have done and everything yet to come.
Much love and peace,
Lisa
God Bless You Michael! Thank you for thinking of all of us "Blog Followers" and updating us.
Bless you and your family--
though I have never met you--I have come to "know you" thru Laura's postings. And wow-what an inspiration all of you have been.
Thank you to all of you for allowing all of us to be a part of that journey! I will forever remember Laura and what she has taught me.
May you all find comfort that she is still with us--watching over you, Morgan and Jack. How lucky you are to have such a beautiful and special guardian angel!!!!
Again, thank you....please let us know if there is anything we can do to help you, your family or Laura's Pass It On foundation.
~Pepper (Renfrow) Gerstner
A fellow classmate of Laura's from ES '90.
Laura was an amazing inspiration to everyone and her strength and constant battle was truly admirable.
She will be missed...there is no doubt. I will always cherish the times that we shared together in elementary and middle school.
Michael, Morgan and Jack..I hope that you will continue her fight and know that she will watch over all of you.
God used her as a teacher to many and she now will continue to teach with all that she has done.
~CaraSue (Lawrence) Hall
Laura was such an inspiration to so many of us without even realizing the impact she had on our everyday lives. I am sorry to hear that Laura is no longer with us to share her experiences along with her optimistic outlook on absolutely everything, but I am happy that she is now able to be be at peace.
Michael, although we have never met, I truly believe you are the best husband and father Laura could've asked for. Your fight along side of her is breathtaking. What a lucky man you were to have her and what a lucky woman she was to have you.
I will continue to pray for you, Morgan and Jack. I know that the children will grow up knowing how courageous their mother was.
I am pleased to hear that the blog will go on. It became a part of my everyday life.
-Diedre (Maidment) Morris
Laura was such a beautiful, positive person and it was absolutely amazing the way she opened her life and shared her journey with us all. Her outlook and drive was an inspiration to everyone who knew her. Michael I'm glad she had you in her life because I don't think she could have been blessed anymore than she was and you were truly blessed to have her as well. I will continue to pray for you and your family and thank you for sharing your thoughts with us at such a difficult time. I am sad that she is no longer here but happy she is whole again and does not have to endure anymore tests. I believe she truly did "beat" cancer because her legacy will live on not only in her foundation but her children, family, friends and anyone who had the special privelege of getting to know her.
God bless you and your family and know that you are all loved and in everyone's prayers.
Becky (Lea) Slack
Dear Michael,
I was so sorry to learn of Laura's passing from mom and dad yesterday. Mom had just last week given me a Pass It On packet of information and I had logged onto her blog yesterday just a little bit before I got the news. I only wish I had known of it earlier so that I could have been better updated on her fight as well as on you, Morgan and Jack. I will continue to follow it so long as you choose to keep it up and share Laura's story with all of my friends...I am the same age now as she was when she was diagnosed. So unbelievable. I have read Laura's beautiful and inspirational posts and I am so moved by each and every one. I know that she has touched more lives than she was ever even aware of. What a legacy. I know that the three of you will be watched over and cared for always and that your children will be so incredibly proud of both of their parents, more so every day. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. I pray that happy memories and the comfort of knowing Laura is without pain, will bring you peace. My love to you all- Courtney (Plunkett) Barton
Michael
I am so very sorry for you, Morgan and Jack. I know that Laura is in another place where she feels better and will be able to watch over her precious family. I thank God for sharing her with us, though the time was not nearly long enough. The fight she lead for all of us and our daughters has been an incredible and amazing journey to witness.
She touched so many lives, both young and not so young. Kate overheard the news and is at a loss over "her Miss Laura". It is truly amazing to me what one person with so much passion and conviction can do.
May God's love give you Peace.
Mike,
The continually positive attitude and perseverance shown by both you and Laura over the years has been an inspiration to everyone who has known you.
Your family will continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.
Rich
Michael-
You and Laura were both so inspirational throughout this process- with such great parents I know that Morgan and Jack are going to be just fine.
You and the kids (and all of us) can look to Laura as a fantastic example of what it means to truly enjoy and take full advantage of life. I'm thankful that Laura decided to share her journey with us through this Blog... she became a friend- one that I looked forward to checking on each day.
Scott
Thank you Michael.
I do not have the eloquence of words to express what my heart is feeling - but want you to know there is much love woven throughout. Laura will always be very much alive through her contagious spirit and infectious spunk. She is still a survivor in my book...one that has no ending.
Love again, to you and Jack and Morgan - and to all family and friends whom have all walked together in their own way this amazing journey.
I can never find words to reveal what I feel. I can only hope that I can live my life so as to bring a bit of His light into someones life as you and your family have done for me.
I have been blessed by knowing you Mike, and my prayer is that God will continue to bless and comfort you and your family.
Micheal,
I am so sorry for your family's loss. I am one of Jack's preschool teachers. Please let me know if there is anything I can do to help your family, especially Jack, during this time. I am sure the entire Discovery Ark team would be honored to help in any way.
Sincerely,
Lynn O'Brien
Michael,
I am in complete shock, I feel so bad for you and the children. I only wish I would have known earlier about Laura's condition, My fault(get tied up with life and become oblivious).
I dated Laura in High School and since then I have always had an empty spot for her, She was an amazing person. I still have great memories of her and Heather. Michael you were blessed by her presence as everyone who ever knew her was. I wish you the best in the future and the same to your two beautiful children.
I know Laura is now free of pain and suffering and is at peace. She will be there waiting for you guys to join her one day, that we can be sure of. Laura always had good intentions and lived a very true and clean life, I respected her more than she will ever know.
I am very sad by this news and I feel for the children that are involved, I hope they are blessed with the understanding and can move on with their lives, I am sure that is what Laura would have wanted.
Michael, I wish you the best and you and the children will be in my prayers. God Bless Jeff Harman
Michael, we are all so privileged to have have had the opportunity to share in this journey with you and your family. Laura opened many of our eyes, not just to the world of cancer, but to the power of faith and passion. She found her mission and lived it - every day - to the fullest. We should all be so inspired.
I know we are all ready and willing to help carry on her legacy. When you are ready, we'll be here.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, Morgan and Jack and the Walsh and Plunkett families.
Nicole
Dear Michael,
I am so very sorry to hear of Laura's passing. I am one of Jack's teachers at Discovery Ark. We love having your wonderful little boy in our class. Laura was such an incredible testimony and example of both motherhood and faith. Your wife's life was so inspiring...I found your post today equally so. You will be in my prayers. Please know that we at the school are happy to help in anyway.
Mrs. Amy
Michael, Morgan & Jack:
We heard the news early this morning at OHE. Your Oak Hill family is here for you. Thinking of you.
Michael, thank you for posting to keep everyone in the loop. That is so selfless of you to be thinking of others at this time.
I am so honored to have met Laura, you, and her parents when I did. I just wish it had been years ago, rather than months ago. I don't often "click" with people, but I did with Laura.
She was honest, positive, and compassionate. She stood as an example for how others want to be. Of course you know all this. :)
I’m so happy that she got to let her girly-girl side out for a night. She certainly had her time in the limelight and made the most of it…in more ways than one.
My thoughts are with you and the kids.
Jennifer H
-from the fashion show :)
I saw this on another blog I had also followed (Stephanie Vest)--and thought it was so beautiful, I wanted to share. I'm imagining Laura looking down on everyone, smiling as she is saying this to all of us--She always found the positive in everything she passed onto us. Thank you Laura--you will never be forgotten! ~Pepper :)
My First Christmas In Heaven
I see the countless Christmas trees around the world below
With tiny lights, like Heaven's stars, reflecting on the snow
The sight is so spectacular, please wipe away the tear
For I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I hear the many Christmas songs that people hold so dear
But the sounds of music can't compare with the Christmas choir up here.
I have no words to tell you, the joy their voices bring,
For it is beyond description, to hear the angels sing.
I know how much you miss me, I see the pain inside your heart
But I am not so far away, We really aren't apart.
So be happy for me, dear ones, You know I hold you dear.
And be glad I'm spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
I sent you each a special gift, from my heavenly home above.
I sent you each a memory of my undying love.
After all, love is a gift more precious than pure gold.
It was always most important in the stories Jesus told.
Please love and keep each other, as my Father said to do.
For I can't count the blessing or love he has for each of you.
So have a Merry Christmas and wipe away that tear
Remember, I am spending Christmas with Jesus Christ this year.
Dear Michael,
We are so very sorry to hear the news about Laura. We are sending our prayers to you, your beautiful children and family. May we all remember her amazing spirit and contagious smile.
With love-
Sarah Turner-Moore and family
Michael,
You don't know me, but Laura was a childhood friend from Excelsior Springs. I've been following her story since being re-connected through facebook. Laura's "do whatever it takes" attitude is truly inspirational. This is something I will carry with me forever. Her legacy will live on in different ways in the many people she's touched.
My heart goes to you and your family as you remember and celebrate such a wonderful woman.
Kind Regards,
Nan Hill
Michael,
I am so sorry for your loss. I have thought of Laura a million times in the past few days as she is now- at peace in body and spirit. She was one of my brother's best friends and I have read her blog religously as she traveled on her journey. I know that she is watching over you and surrounding you and the kids in a blanket of love each and every moment. Knowing Laura she will constantly be sending you reminders of her presence! Because of who Laura was (and who you are) you will always have a piece of her in Morgan and Jack. I know that even while she was fighting her disease she was putting a hundred times more energy into making her family strong should they have to go on without her. I know that there are many people who are holding you in their thoughts and prayers. May you feel all of us as we love and support you and the kids during this time.
Mary Beth Goff
I knew Laura as a new Christian, with such excitement and hope for the future. I'm glad to know she is with the Lord
Linda Murrow
Michael, Morgan & Jack-
Even though I only had an "aquaintance" type of relationship with Laura in high school.. I vividly remember what a positive and vibrant person she was. I have been incredibly moved these past days after learning of her passing & reading her blogs. What an inspiration she was to everyone, even those not touched by cancer.
We've never met, but my heart goes out to you and your beautiful children. What a blessing it must have been to have shared your lives with such a person.
Thank you for sharing your journey with all... it is truly moving and thought provoking.
God bless you all.
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