Hey Sis...your beloved son, Hunter, whom we love and cherish dearly visited with us this week in Ohio. We had a beautiful time and he remembered and honored your birthday with a beautiful bouquet of flowers to bring to your Memorial Tree. He picked out these lilies as he said they reminded him of the flowers he gave you on Mother's Day. You have such a special boy who loves and misses you every day. He shared with me that he knows you are with him always.
It has been one year without you Sis...and I still cannot believe you are gone. You are missed beyond belief. So sorry we have struggled so with your loss...it's just that you were so very loved and the loss of you has been so very deep. I find myself always reaching for my phone to call you..Really trying here, honest, really trying. I know your first Christmas in Heaven was beautiful. Our first Christmas without you has not been good..I didn't even get to message on here..when Dad received his news during the holidays...well, nothing seemed like a holiday anymore. With your absence and his diagnosis...well, what can I say. But we missed you, Love...we really missed you being here...now, I am just helping Dad get through...walk with him as he makes his journey, just as you did. Helping Mom through this too, they both miss you so deeply. This morning, on this anniversary, I kept your photo at my desk with a pretty little butterfly...and I thought about how you will be waiting there when Dad takes his journey there..it was comforting to know that you will be there with open arms to bring Dad there in Heaven..I know it won't be long..and I can hardly bear the thought of losing him, too. We love him so very much. But somehow knowing you will be there waiting for him, well it was comforting...I love Sis, I miss you, A part of me died with you that day..My beautiful sister.
No, I cannot believe you have been gone for one year, today the anniversary of the day we lost you. It has been so hard to go on without you...
Jimmy Buffett concert with Heidi and Bill Hinkel February 2012 in Orlando
Halloween 2011--"The Housewives of Orlando" at Springer house in Merritt Island
2009 Summer "Ribfest" at Kim Perez's in Melbourne. I have so many "selfies" of Pam and I over the years, she looks beautifully happy here.
Bill Hinkel invited Heidi and Pam on a long weekend up the St. Johns River and a weekend at Silver Glen. The fresh water bubbles up from the spring and is 72 degrees year round. She took the kayak out with her hoodie and sunglasses and was dubbed the unibomber or the uniPamer. It was off season and quiet with Florida nature at it's best. We snorkeled over schools of fish, enjoyed flocks of colorful birds covering the trees, and kayaked near alligators and turtles sunning. We explained that we could all fit in the cabin but she enjoyed her very own tent in the stern. She didn't need much, just nature, friends and family. A quiet trip I will cherish.
My beautiful sister Pam...On Thursday, July 18, we gathered as a family to remember you with an afternoon of planting flowers under your beautiful Memorial Tree, share poems and stories of you and ending our celebration with your beloved son, Hunter releasing beautiful Monarch Butterflies all around your tree. It was simply amazing and we know you there in spirit with us. Your beautiful Oak Tree is in full bloom with lush green leaves. It stands at the entrance to the Memory Garden and Pond. The flowers that were planted by Scott, Bill, Dad and Hunter were a mixture of plants from Mom and Dad and a special friend of mine who sent me a Butterfly Garden after your passing to plant in your memory. Mom and Dad brought a balloon boquet with a large butterfly and several pink balloons and tied it to your tree. Your lovely picture was sitting under your tree by your memory name stone and you received a beautiful gift of a butterfly garden solar lamp from Carole which was placed under your tree. I know it will shine brightly during the night. I chose a Butterfly Release to honor you as we know how much butterflies meant to you during your life...a symbol of transformation, as well, as a symbol of Hope. It was a year of butterflies! It was a glorious family occasion to honor you, Sis, and we were so happy to have Hunter be here and be such a very special part. He had a great visit with us this week..he was happy and having fun and can't wait to come back. We enjoyed every single minute with him. He even showed me his very special way he talks with you all the time. So amazing. He is amazing. You raised a very special boy..full of love and kindness with a sense of humor and joy for all things in this life. Your legacy lives on through this beautiful child of yours. He was so happy to see your Memorial Oak Tree and told me he is looking forward to come and visit it when he comes back and said he wants to bring things with him to place under your tree whenever he visits. It was a beautiful family gathering, Honey. We love and miss you so. We are so happy we have this lovely Memorial Tree..a place for us all to go and spend some time with you in such a beautiful place. Dad takes Mom there often...Rest in peace, sweet sister...you are forever loved..forever missed..
Today is your birthday Pam and I am missing you so much. I am thinking back to our birthday celebrations and how fun they were. Not a day goes by that I am not thinking of you. I hope you are living a beautiful life in Heaven, free of sickness and pain. You are our special Angel now. I know you are watching over all of us. I love you and miss you beyond belief..
I created this memorial tribute for my sister, Pam, who passed away on February 24th, 2013 at her home in Orlando, Florida. Pam's world was forever changed 14 months ago when she was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroendocrine Carcinoma, a rare form of cancer with a primary site in the lung and metastases to her lymph nodes, spine and brain. She fought a year long courageous battle, enduring her pain and suffering with a brave heart, recieving multiple chemotherapy treatments, radiation therapy and surgeries all the while supported by the tremendous love of family and friends. Throughout her ordeal, she remained hopeful and determined that she would beat her cancer. Her eleven year old son, Hunter, was her inspiration and she gained strength to get through her days from his love and adoration. Pam and Hunter had such a special bond, spending time with friends and family through the years camping, boating, fishing and all the things that she knew Hunter loved. She instilled in him love, values, respect, a zest for life, compassion for others and many other fine attributes that he will carry with him always through life. Pam was a devoted Mother, loving Daughter, amazing Sister, doting Aunt and very special Friend. We are left with a tremendous loss but know she is now free of pain and suffering and is finally at peace. I created this memorial tribute to my beautiful Sister to honor her life. Please feel free to share any stories, photos, poems and memories you have for her. It is a lasting memorial and I'll continue to add photos, videos and Pam's favorite songs. Rest in peace, my sweet sister. You are forever missed...forever loved.
