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| Lindsey & her Daddy Soccer Fans |
For the greater part of her short life, she battled a rare terminal illness - Tay Sachs Disease. Indeed, Lindsey Bowser was a fighter. The strongest little girl we've ever had the pleasure of loving.
Though we were full aware that the chances of her beating all odds were slim-to-none, still we remained hopeful that in her lifetime a cure might be found.
It still has not been found.
Further, we felt confident we'd well-prepared our hearts and minds for the moment Lindsey's body determined it could no longer sustain her.
We still were not prepared.
Emptiness moved in and has taken permanent residence in our hearts.
That's the 'down-side' of Lindsey's story.
Here's the 'up-side'.
Lindsey lives in Heaven now with Jesus. I have every confidence that one day Lindsey and I will be sharing stories, hugs, and laughter while walking hand-in-hand down Heaven's streets of gold.
I am Lindsey's paternal grandmother. At her memorial service, her paternal Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Ghiata, her PaPa Joe (paternal grandfather), and her two paternal aunts - Shelby and Shannon, asked me to share these thoughts for them ...
Lindsey's Daddy's Sister / Aunt Shannon said: 'When someone passes away, most people say "rest in peace." Lindsey, my wishes for you are to run, jump, play, blow bubbles, laugh, skip, be silly, pet puppies, swim, skip, ride a bike, make friends, and eat ice cream! Do all the things your earthly body could not allow! I hope you experience the full freedom, love, peace, and FUN that Heaven offers. I love you so much and I'm thankful that your pain is forever over. We shall meet and play again one day sweet niece. Your Aunt Shannon loves you.'
Lindsey's Daddy's Sister / Aunt Shelby said: 'Sunday evening, my niece Lindsey passed away after a long, hard-fought battle with Tay Sachs Disease. She was the strongest little girl I have ever known. I am heartbroken ... For the precious little girl that I loved so much ... For the life that she wasn't given the opportunity to live ... For my brother, whose daughter was the love of his life ... For my mother, a grandmother who loves her children and grandchildren with every ounce of her being. I am sad. I am angry. I am confused. I am a lot of things. But as hurt as I am, I cannot help but to feel some joy as well. Joy because I know where Lindsey is and who she is with. I know that it's a place that's far beyond anything this world has to offer, and that what she's experiencing is far more amazing than any of us can imagine here on earth. She has WON the battle. She is running, jumping, laughing, singing, skipping, playing. She is FREE. We will all see you soon Princess Lindz. Take care of Scrappy for me (Shelby's yorkie who passed away earlier this year.) Your Aunt 'Shuby' (Lindsey always called her that) loves you.'
Lindsey's PaPa Joe (paternal grandfather) said: 'Lindsey touched many people's lives and brought out a part in each of us that we didn't even know we had. Her gift to us will last forever and enrich us for the rest of our lives. She launched a new career path for some. She taught us to "just do it" even if we didn't think we could. She taught us to live life day to day, and don't expect tomorrow to be the same. She taught us to love deeper than ever thought possible. She taught us to be strong, to cry, to take action, to be patient, brave and compassionate. Lindsey gave us so much and expected nothing in return. We love her so much. My deepest memory with her was taking her to the swing set to play as we walked slowly hand in hand, talking along the way, and her letting me be that special grandpa for a while. Every time one of my grandchildren calls me 'PaPa Joe', I think of her - because that's the name Lindsey gave me.
I shared some of my own memories as well ...
Lindsey - Some of my own sweet memories are: When you picked the tops off all the flowers in my front yard - as your gift to me. Now you can pick the tops off the prettiest flowers ever. When you hid behind our couch, pulled off your eye patch, and stuck it to the back of the couch. You thought I'd never notice. So I pretended I didn't. I still have your eye patch, even though you'll never need it again. When you would run down the hall at our home - over and over again - as fast as your legs would carry you. Now your perfect legs are allowing you to run again ... all over Heaven. As fast as you want. Forever. My favorite memories are your hugs and kisses. I miss them. I miss you. And I love you. Until we meet again ...
Lindsey's Great Grandpa Ghiata shared these thoughts ...
We grieve for losing Lindsey. We loved her and love you all, and are sorry we can't be there to share your grief. We have happy memories of Lindsey. There is a line from a song that goes, 'Memories are a gift from God, that death cannot destroy.' God's word tells us, 'I don't want you to be ignorant concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.' - Thessalonians 4: 13-14. Lindsey is asleep in Jesus. 2nd Corinthians 5: 8 calls it being 'absent from the body and present with the Lord.' So then, we are confident that Lindsey's body is asleep in Jesus, and her soul is present with the Lord. God made us body, soul and spirit. Tay Sachs damaged Lindsey's frail body until the Lord took her soul and spirit to live with Him in Heaven for all eternity. Revelation 21: 4 says, 'God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes, and there shall be no more pain - for the former things are passed away.' This is what we look forward to as God's children. We will meet again and all be together for all eternity. This is God's promise to you. Today, Lindsey has all her faculties, and is totally enjoying - beyond our imagination - the beauty and joy of Heaven. But most of all, Lindsey is personally present with the Lord who loves her, died for her, and has taken her home. With Love and Compassion, Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Ghiata
Friends - My hope and prayer is that if you have not yet accepted Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, don't put it off. Don't wait. Tomorrow might be too late. Your tomorrow may never come.
Lovingly,
Lori
