A personal note

by

Renee2As some of you know my niece passed away yesterday.  She was in the Kansas City area and was staying at a hotel with her family.  She went to the pool area Saturday evening and for some unknown reason she was found floating face down in the pool about 20–30 minutes later.  They pulled her out and administered CPR and called 911.  They got her to the hospital but she was not responding.  They put her on life support and ran some tests but she didn’t respond.  They removed the life support Monday morning and she passed away.  Renee was 16.

The family had donated many of her organs which is really great.  Hopefully she will give a chance for a healthier life to many other people.  I know that makes her parents proud. 

I want to thank those that have expressed their sympathies and thoughts and prayers.  It means a lot to me and I will convey the messages to her family.

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134 thoughts on “A personal note”

  5. Oh, man, that’s a heartbreaker. I’m so sorry for you and yours. As you say, there’s a chance that some good can come from this … but that’s no consolation for your loss. My very best to all.

  6. My condolences, Jon. Hold on to the remembrances of the good times and the knowledge that she is still living on through her donations.

  12. Es muy triste eso que cuentas. Escribo en español porque quiero ratificarte que seguimos tu blog desde muchos sitios. Aprovecho para darte las gracias y dale mis condolencias a tu familia.
    Translation:
    ( It is very sad that you have. I write in Spanish because I want to continue your blog ratificarte from many sites. Like to thank you and give my condolences to your family.)

  13. I am very sorry to read of your niece’s passing. As we wrote a few days ago, it is wrenching to have a loved one taken away suddenly and unexpectedly.

    May you and loved ones find comfort in remembering the all-too-brief time you shared with a beautiful young woman. She has been called home, and all those who went before her have greeted her with open arms and loving hearts.

  16. In a beautiful blue lagoon on a clear day,
    a fine sailing-ship spreads its brilliant white canvas in a fresh morning breeze
    and sails out to the open sea.
    We watch her glide away magnificently
    through the deep blue and gradually see her grow smaller and smaller
    as she nears the horizon.
    Finally, where the sea and sky meet,
    she slips silently from sight;
    and someone near me says,
    “There, she is gone!”
    Gone where?
    Gone from sight — that is all.
    She is still as large in mast and hull and sail,
    still just as able to bear her load.
    And we can be sure that, just as we say, “There, she is gone!”, there are others on a far shore who are watching her coming.
    Other voices that take up the glad shout, “Here she comes!”
    And that is dying.

    -Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933)

  17. Very, very sorry to hear about that. Far too young — but a child is never old enough to lose. Prayers and thoughts from my family.

  18. Oh my God Jonco, I am so saddened and sorry to hear this. This is horrible and I do pray and hope you and your family find some sort of peace from this. 16 is just the beginning of life. I will be thinking good thoughts and sending much love and strength your way.

    I really don’t know what more to say. I’m just so very sorry.
    Big hugs,
    Aubrey

  21. Wow DJ….. that is moving! Thanks so much for sharing that. And thanks so much for everyone’s kind wishes and thoughts.

  22. Jon,
    May the maker of all mankind console you and yours in this time of great loss. May you experience only joyous occasions in your life.

    An avid reader and follower.

    MS

  23. having lost a child myself, I know this pain-but how wonderful to donate and give others a second chnace-My prayers are with you

  24. My deepest sympathies to you and your family Jonco.
    ~”When you lose someone you love, you gain an Angel you know.”~

  25. Jonco,moja dubuka sućut vama i vašoj obitelji.

    Translation: (dubuka my condolences to you and your family)

  27. Jonco…I found that verse several years ago. I’ve sent it to quite a few friends who were grieving, and I’ve gotten a lot of emotional comments on it. As you know, I’m not a particularly spiritual person, but I have found great comfort in this poem during some very very sad times. Feel free to pass it on to those in need.

  29. So very sorry to hear this sad news..what a shock for your family. My condolences to you and yours.

  31. This is such a sad news… I couldn’t help but thinking to this poem by Victor Hugo, following the drowning of his beloved daughter Léopoldine. It is very emotional…

    Demain, dès l’aube, à l’heure où blanchit la campagne,
    Je partirai. Vois-tu, je sais que tu m’attends.
    J’irai par la forêt, j’irai par la montagne.
    Je ne puis demeurer loin de toi plus longtemps.

    Je marcherai les yeux fixés sur mes pensées,
    Sans rien voir au dehors, sans entendre aucun bruit,
    Seul, inconnu, le dos courbé, les mains croisées,
    Triste, et le jour pour moi sera comme la nuit.

    Je ne regarderai ni l’or du soir qui tombe,
    Ni les voiles au loin descendant vers Harfleur,
    Et quand j’arriverai, je mettrai sur ta tombe
    Un bouquet de houx vert et de bruyère en fleur.

    Translation:
    Tomorrow, from dawn, when the countryside whitens,
    I will. You see, I know you expect.
    I go by the forest, I go by the mountain.
    I can not stay away from you any longer.

    I walk with eyes fixed on my thoughts,
    Nothing to see outside, without hearing any noise,
    Alone, unknown, back bent, hands crossed,
    Sad, and the day will be like for me at night.

    I do not watch or gold evening falls,
    Ni les voiles au loin descendant vers Harfleur,
    And when I arrive, I put on your grave
    A bouquet of green holly and heather in bloom.

  32. So sorry for your incredible loss. Hopefully time will heal this gaping hole left by your niece’s absence.

  34. Jonco,
    Just learned about your terrible tragedy.Please extend my deepest condolences to the family.

  36. That’s really awful Jonco, I was not aware of any of it.
    Thousands of miles away though I am, practical stranger though I am, I feel that I want to reach out and give you comfort. There isn’t anything a person can say at a time like this that makes it any less painful, senseless or unjust, but my heart goes out to you and your family.

  39. Dude,
    Just logged on, so sorry for your loss. We all are shedding tears for you tonight, since this will remind each of us of our own losses. Peace to all.

  40. Jonco–I am sorry for your family’s loss.

    My prayers are with you and your family. May God give you and your family the peace that only He can provide to help you through this time.

    Take care.

  41. Never nice and always hard especially when it is sudden. What a beautiful gift though to help others.

  42. Jonco~
    My prayers are with you and your family. Your niece gave a precious gift to many people. Your tragedy is another family’s blessing. How generous of your niece to think of others at such a young age. It’s obvious that she was brought up with very loving parents. God bless.

  44. i am so sorry to hear about this tragic loss in your family.. i had no idea you were going thru this,, and i hope her immediate falmiy is doing ok…

  45. Delurking to say how sorry I am. There are no words… would it help to say I don’t know what to say? I hope you and the rest of the family is comforted at this time. My thoughts go out to you.

  47. Nothing can properly prepare us for the loss of someone so young. And no words could be adequate. My sincere condolences to your family. I am glad to hear that the family can take some comfort in the knowledge that Renee’s passing has led to the gift of life for others. When things seem their worst don’t forget to remember the good times and find peace in the memories.

  50. You and your family have lost Renee forever, Jon, but each of her organs may help some other family somewhere so they might not go through what you are going through. I won’t pretend that will somehow lessen your loss, but it will prevent their loss.

    In an odd way, Renee went past this life to save others. I cannot say as to whether she knows it, or whether or not there is some sort of karma involved in your family’s selfless act of sacrifice in this.

    What I can say that in this moment of grief, for your family to have the vision to make Renee’s life, not her death, be her final act, it is inspiring, and it is good.

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