I have written about her before. About the way she loves and lives, the way she sparkles, the way her talent blows me away, the way her passion blows me away. I wrote about her cancer.
I know many of you have been looking for updates and I’m sorry for being unable to update you. But I thank you for praying for her and her health, her strength.
Yesterday, Samantha passed away.
I type those words and I reread them and I can not believe it’s true. I feel like I’m lying to you. I wish I were lying to you.
But I’m not.
My heart. My heart feels missing. Lost. Broken. This is so completely unfair. It’s unfair. I can’t comprehend it and I know that it doesn’t matter whether I comprehend it or not but if I could just get an explanation from God as to why this happened, I wonder if that would make me feel better.
The world lost some color yesterday. As soon as I heard the news over the phone, everything seemed to turn black and white. I imagine it will take time to turn back to color again but the world will never, ever be the same.
I am so grateful to have met her. To have wrapped my arms around her, to have shared our dreams together, to have been able to look into her eyes and feel them nearly start me on fire. I will never, ever forget the gift of just knowing her.
But for right now, my heart just wants her back.
Please pray for her family.
I’m so sorry Beth. I wish I could see you right now and just hug you. I can’t imagine how you are feeling, but I can tell you are hurting – immensely. I will pray for you and for her family…and for everyone that knew her.
Wishing you love, peace and color.
I am so sorry Beth. When I saw this yesterday on FB I hurt for you, for her family. I will keep them close at heart, and you as well.
Beth, my heart goes out to you and her family. Such a tragic loss and words are never enough at a time like this…but your photos speak so loudly. I do not know her, but reading your words and seeing those images, my heart breaks.
Beth, I’m so sorry for the tremendous loss of your friend. I am these beautiful photos that you took of her will be cherished by many.
I’m so very sorry for the loss of your friend. Thank you for sharing her on this blog – I’ve followed her story since you started writing about her, and it is obvious that she was a very special person. I will be praying for you and her family.
I woke up this morning looking at Facebook hoping it was all a nightmare. Her heart and spirit were so strong. I can’t understand why God would take her.
I am so very truly sorry for your loss. You can just tell through your photos and words what a beautiful and amazing woman Samantha was. Thoughts and prayers for her family and friends.
She is so breathtakingly beautiful. I keep looking at her pictures and thinking she wore her battle beautifully. I’m so sorry for the loss of your friend.
I’m so sorry to hear this. She was so absolutely beautiful inside and out. I am praying for your family, and hers. I hope comfort finds you soon.
My deepest sympathies on the loss of your friend. Your post paid a loving tribute to her.
I am so so so so so so so so so sorry for your lose. Words cannot even express my deepest sympathies to you. God bless.
Beth, Please accept my deepest sympathies for the loss of your friend. I wish you, your family, and her family peace at this most extremely difficult time. The world may have lost a little bit of color yesterday, but heaven just got a little bit brighter.
So sorry to hear about Samantha. I am sending so much *love* to you, to her family and all whose lives she touched. Hugs and peace and extra hugs and lots of love… JH
I’m so deeply sorry for the worlds loss of this beautiful woman. HUGS and prayers.
Janelle
Oh Beth, I am so sorry. I will pray for her family and for you too. Your words are a beautiful tribute to her.
Oh Beth, I’m so, SO sorry. You’re right, it’s just not fair. xoxo Praying…
So heartbreaking, but we know what is to come. Saying prayers for everyone now…
Beth,
While doing research for the company I work for, I found your blog. It just happened to be on a day in which you are experiencing the pain of a great loss. I know I don’t know you but I wanted to let you know that I hurt for you and Samantha’s family and friends. You will be in my prayers.
Kurt
Praying.
And hugs to you.
I’m so sorry for the loss of Samantha from your life and the lives of everyone who loved her. It’s easy to see that she was a beautiful person inside and out and the world is diminished to not have her in it.
I’m praying for Samantha and for comfort for those who loved her. I know her memory and her spirit will live on in every life she touched.
When you spoke about Samantha, you could see and hear the love in your heart for her. I am sorry for this. We will keep praying for her family and all the people who loved her.
I’m sorry doesn’t seem like enough to say at a time like this, but I truely am. I’m sorry for the loss of your friend and for the loss of the colors. You know they will come back though. They have come back before and they will again. My prayers go out to you and Samantha’s friends and family. Love and hugs Beth, love and hugs!
It’s so not fair………I’m so heartbroken.
Beth……these photos are such a gift to so many…….
A priceless, precious gift. I am so looking forward to Friday
and to celebrating what an amazing person she was. See you then my friend.
xoxoxo
I’ve been saving this post since I read it, hoping the “right” words would come.
They haven’t.
But I wish you didn’t have to lose someone so dear. I truly do.
Beth…I just can’t seem to find the “right” words…so all I’ll say for now is I am so sorry….all my love….
::Sigh::
so very very sorry to hear this news…
thinking of those who loved and knew her…and holding my own just a little bit tighter today…
xoxo
I am deeply, deeply sorry to hear about this loss. How heartbreaking. Prayers of comfort for you and all of her family and friends.
I think I just don’t have the words still. I don’t know what to do or say.
Steph
I wish there wasn’t so much in “common” in the world about cancer. I lost a friend of mine to cancer about a year and a half ago. The ache doesn’t leave; but neither do the memories! Hold on tight to the love you had for her and carry that with you always.
http://heguidesme.blogspot.com/2009/12/rip-shannon-sperando-sales.html
So sorry to hear this news. My heart sank when I read this. I literally read her entire blog in one sitting a month or so ago because Samantha’s story just pulled me in. I will keep her family and friends in my prayers. Heaven has a new angel.
God bless all those who knew her, who loved her, and who have been touched by her story. Virtual hugs to her family and friends. I can see – even in the photos – that her’s was a beautiful spirit. It’s the kind of spirit that lives on even when the body no longer does.
I am praying for her family and you.
I am thinking of you and her family. Sometimes words are not adequate. Sometimes you just need a hug or someone to hold your hand. So to you I am sending a big ((((hug)))))
I am so so sorry. She’s beautiful.
Prayers!
I am so terribly sorry. My thoughts and prayers go to all of her loved ones. She was a very beautiful woman. I can’t understand why things like this happen, but God always has a reason. Take care.
beautifully written …xoxox!
I am so sorry for your loss, and theirs. May God give comfort to each of you.
i literally JUST went to her site to see if there were any updates, right before i came to yours. i’m so sorry. cancer is a dirty bitch that has recently stolen the color from my family, too.
xo
Beth…I was just thinking about your blog post about contacting Samantha. I went back to read that post. You wrote…..
In my facing my fears, forgetting my photographic inadequacies and listening to that voice telling me to “go, go, go and connect with Samantha,” I captured something so much bigger than I ever imagined possible.
On this couch, in a field, in the snow, in Indiana…I captured one of the strongest people I have ever met and I need to share her with you.
Aren’t you glad you contacted her? Your photos are beautiful! What a wonderful gift you gave her and her family. And thank you for sharing her with us.
Rest in peace Samantha…
Beth, I’m so sorry she is gone, I’m so sorry your heart is hurting….I wish I could take your pain away….
I am so, so, so sorry for your loss. She is just beautiful. I can see in her eyes that she was a wonderful person. Again, I am so sorry.
Oh, my heart hurts for you. I am so very sorry for the loss of your friend. I too lost my best friend to cancer. She’s been gone for 9 years and all at once it feels like yesterday she died and forever that she’s been gone.
Thinking of you.
I am sorry to hear this…and struggling with another diagnoses to a good friend of mine.
I am walking in the Relay for Life on Friday…hoping that any little thing I can do, the truly only thing I CAN do…will make a difference.
Beth, What a beautiful post. What an amazing way to pay tribute to a friend. I am sorry for your loss. I am sorry for our loss.