A Letter From Catie
March 2025
Mom, Dad, the Fab 5 and all that receive this letter,
Greetings from heaven. I wanted to take a turn and write this year’s letter and let y’all hear things from my perspective. First, let me start by saying I love you. Every time I take a glimpse away from where I am and who I am with, I see each one of you and you make me smile. I know when you are thinking about me, I know when you aren’t thinking about me and feel bad about it, and I know when you are missing me. In all of that, I just love you. I thank you for every moment that I am in your thoughts or on your heart. In the timelessness of my existence, you are always on my mind and always in the very center of my heart.
So here are my observations on the past year.
I’ll start with my siblings. I love you all and I am so sorry that what I went through and my absence has ever caused you pain. If you are willing to share it with me, I’ll take all you can send my way. Maggie, I love you and I am so proud of you. I watch you care for your patients and I know how blessed they are to have you as their nurse. I see you looking for houses and I am checking Zillow for you each day and sending you ones I think you will love. Max, I love you, big brother. I get to see you in your Navy uniform each day as you serve your country, and know that I am ahead of Mom who keeps asking for a picture of you in uniform. Please stay safe. Mia, my precious little sister, I love you. I am so happy for you that you are heading to graduate school to learn more about cancer research; you’ll be amazing. Molly, I love you so much and spend a ton of time with you at Bloomsburg. You have found your home with the right friends, the right major, and I am so happy for you. M.E., I love you little one. I appreciate your passion and willingness to immerse yourself in the college experience at Pitt. Oh, the places you have taken me!
For all of you, if I could remove any obstacles in your way, I would. If I could take away the migraines that plague each of you, I would. There are some things I cannot do, but what I will continue to do is love you and care for you as best I can. I will always be on the other side of any thought you share with me and I will forever be on your side. Thank you for being such great siblings, to me and to each other; I love you.
Mom, could you have made any more changes in the past year? I love watching you in your new job as you help to train Social Workers before they head into the field. No one who knows you would be surprised that you are ALL IN. I wish all of you could witness what I have seen as my mom plays the roles they assign to her. She gives virtuoso performances. And yet as proud as I am that you are venturing into the work force, it is in the moments when you get on a call with a bereaved mom and listen to her tears and frustrations that I am most in awe of you. Those moms are blessed to have you in their lives. I love you, Mom. Dad, I love you too. You share my story and the stories of kids battling cancer and other illnesses every day and with my constant help, you do an awesome job and I am so proud of you. Thank you for what you do so that the “next” kid continues to have a chance to live. I watched you today at St. Joseph’s inspire the kids who will be dancing and was thrilled that my old school decided to donate all of the proceeds from their dance-a-thon to the CWF. (Since I am writing this is, is it the My Wish Foundation?)
And for all of you, thank you. Every sacrifice you make, every dollar you contribute, every single prayer you offer makes such a difference. There are kids alive today that would not be alive without YOU. Four hundred thousand children will contract some form of cancer this year. Even in the bliss of heaven, those kids, their families and what they will have to endure make me sad. That amount of suffering is hard for me. What gives me hope, what allows me to face that challenge is all of you. You have said through your actions, thoughts and prayers that not a single one of those kids and those families will ever have to face their battle and their journey alone. You have stormed heaven and although they will never know why or how, some of those families will stay whole because of you.
You, with every thought, prayer, and dollar, make a difference. YOU are my voice and my hands. Every time you tell my story you are my voice to the world. Every time you reach out to someone, hold someone in your arms, care for someone and think of me, you are my hands. Every time you ask me to climb up into God’s lap and whisper in His ear the name of a child who needs help, you give purpose to my life. Thank you! By making a difference in the lives of others, you allow me to continue to make a difference. I
couldn’t do it without you.
If I had only one request, it is this; for all the love you share with others, please take the time to love YOU as well. I love each of you. You are in my constant thoughts. I enjoy spending moments with each of you. You make me laugh, you bring me joy, and in the right time, I will see you again. Please remember what I said about taking care of you.
Love always. God is good, all the time.
Catie
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