Friends and family celebrated Leroy's life in Silver Spring, Md. on Sunday, Sept. 14. This is video of the event.
My Cancer
Thank you, thank you, thank you. I was able to listen to the service but tonight was the first time I was able to 'see' the service.
Thanks also to the Discovery Channel and NPR for making all of this possible.
Laurie, we need to talk. Leroy sounded SO much like my Pat in the way he interacted with everyone he met. Pat's prayer service night ended up being a "I'm thankful to Pat for..." night and his many friends got up and spoke of their memories of Pat. It was great.
I know that you're hurting. I don't know if you remember something I wrote a while back---put a pillow behind you right about where Leroy would be. Just before you (finally) fall asleep, you can just imagine that it's Leroy's back you're nudging. Trust me, it works.
And, after 3 years, I just miss the man. I miss my friend.
Hugs and lifting prayers...
Laurie,
Thank you.........
NPR, thank you for bringing this to us.
What a truly beautiful celebration of Leroy's life. Thank you Laurie, NPR, and most of all thank you Leroy.
What a beautiful memorial. So loving, so full of stories, such a wonderful tribute to Leroy. Thank you, Laurie. We love you.
I knew Leroy as student body president of my high school. Even back then we all knew that Leroy was a cut above the rest of us. Leroy may you rest in peace. We miss you.
Thank you for sharing this - for sharing Leroy with all of us out here.
Oh my gosh...that was so wonderful seeing and hearing all the people that loved Leroy, and knowing that thousands of people via NPR were sharing in the love. Thank you, NPR, for bringing us Leroy's amazing journey home.
yes, thank you. so nice to put faces with the names. what an amazing bunch.
Dear Laurie,
With a heart full of thanks to you, the family, all the friends, Discovery Channel, NPR ... and Leroy ... for sharing the video of this lovely day of remembrance. Listening on Sunday was very special ~ But seeing all the faces and expressions (and Hawaiian shirts and bowling shirts and leis!) along with hearing those wonderful voices makes our presence with you seem all that much closer. 'Tis such a gift ...
Affectionately,
Kim Forester
Loved your "original timeshare"! My life felt like that, as well, but it was part of the man whose life was part of mine! Thank you so much, NPR, and Laurie, for letting us share in the video. Yes, we are all still part of Leroys Army because it is a war that goes on and on.
Many thanks NPR!
What a beautiful tribute; thank you for sharing!
Amazing. That's it, simply amazing! Thank you for sharing with us.
Thank you for sharing with us. I am truly grateful for your generosity.
Dear Laurie,
Thanks to you and NPR for sharing the video. I was touched seeing how hard it was for his doctor to speak of him. Sometimes we forget that our doctors have a very hard job and that they are human. I consider my friends among the greatest blessings in my life and Leroy was very blessed.
Take care!
Charlotte in Rural Ridge, PA
I miss my daily connection with Leroy and his take on life, disease and impending death.
Dear Lorie,
Thank you for allowing us to share in this celebration of Leroy's wonderful, loving life. Lots of used napkins later, I can tell you that you've done Leroy proud. Thank you for sharing your memories and love. -- Debbie
Dearest Laurie,
In Feb.07' my daughter Morgan was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor. Inoperable, radiation, chemo and millions of prayers lifted nightly~ she went to Heaven on August 22, 08. She was 16 years old. I hear your pain Laurie. I wish I had something for you, anything at all that would help ease the darkness. I heart breaks for you, and your family...it is so, so hard. To me, nothing makes sense anymore, but I imagine one day I will start to see the light again~ one tiny sparkle at a time. I pray you will too. I cherished Leroy's writings. I felt he was right there with us through every treatment, and every triumph! He touched so many of us Laurie, in a club that none of us wanted to belong too.
Be gentle to yourself, take time and be still. We are all holding you and your family in our hearts~
With Love,
Dawn Pinckney, MI
I thought I had cried all the tears I had for this man I'd never stood next too. I was so very very wrong.
Thank you Laurie, NPR, and Discovery for sharing this with us.
Thank you Leroy.
I wish I was there but after watching the video - I felt I was there!
God Bless Leroy Sievers!
You are missed big guy!
Peace to all and especially Laurie!
Laurie, Thanks for sharing Leroy with us. I miss him.
Thanks NPR
Thank you for sharing this with all of us. It was such a wonderful celebration of Leroy's life.
Laurie,
Thanks for posting this. I just watched it on my lunch hour. It sounds trite to say I laughed and I cried while watching it, but I did. I loved hearing all the stories, and the gentleman who spoke about their trip to Rwanda touched me deeply. I was also touched by your struggle with his comment "it's what I do..." It takes a special person to be able to share "the original human time share."
It was a beautiful tribute. God bless you, Laurie. I wish you strength.
Thanks so much for the video. I was disappointed not to be able to "attend" and was going to "listen" this weekend. But this is great. I appreciate it. My thoughts are with all family and friends.
Help I only get the first 6 min 39 seconds of the tape I have rebooted my puter down loaded and still the same.
I am a care giver for my wife that has been fighting the fight 4 years now.
Thank you for letting us share this beautiful tribute and a way of saying so long to that lovely man, Leroy. My thoughts and prayers are with you Laurie, and to the rest of his family and friends.
Thanks to all of you for the hope and humanity of Leroy and you for sharing your pieces that made up the amazing whole of a remarkable man.
Thanks to all who had a hand in putting this together. Leroy was a treasure for so many, but he and Laurie have great treasures in the friends and family. Thank you for sharing. Laurie, be strong. Nothing is as hard as trying to go on with a normal life after losing such a brillant star in the sky.
Dear Laurie, Maeve and NPR,
THANK YOU for allowing us to participate in this tribute to Leroy. It was absolutely phenomenal.
Loved the shirts....
Thank you for sharing this with us.
Hi Laurie,
I just watched the ceremony again. I am passing it along to family and friends because it was so amazing and so meaningful.
Thanks for letting us see it again, and thank you, NPR.
Thanks Laurie and NPR,
I liked that "Time Share Human" and understanding that he needed that. You may have only been his wife in name for a few short months, but I believe you've been his wife in spirit a very long time. I'm so sorry for your loss, I miss him too.
Thank You, Thank You Dear Laurie for sharing this. It is amassing and beautiful. Thank you NPR.
As some one said earlier it takes an amassing person to be able to share "the original human time share"
God Bless you Laurie and may he give you strength.
Peace be with you.
Marelly
Sigh. Rest in peace, Leroy. Godspeed.
This tribute was incredibly moving and much deserved. Thank you NPR for making it possible for us to watch. Laurie, your posts speak as eloquently and honestly about grief as Leroy's did regarding living with cancer. You are in my thoughts during these difficult days.
thank you for sharing Leroy's life and good nature. We are all in this life and death together.
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Thank you for allowing us to be present and to witness such a wonderful celebration of life.
I'm still lifting!!!!
Thank you for sharing such an intimate celebration of Leroy's life. I listened live on Sunday but to see the video is incredibly special. And, Laurie, thank you for continuing to post on the My Cancer blog. It would be so raw to have this blog end anytime soon. Your entries are treasured. With love, Cathy
Laurie, it was nice to finally see you..Thank you for letting us in..
Thank you NPR, Discovery, and especially Laurie for sharing this with us. Laurie, I wish you strength and love. We all miss Leroy.
I don't know what to say here. Everyone has said thank you to NPR, Laurie and it is truly deserved. I love technology and everything it brings to the table. Thank you to all that were involved in bringing this to the public. It is truly helpful for us that have been his virtual family.
We had a memorial service for Melody at the Art Institute a month after she died and this service reminded me of her's.
And Laurie, I identify with you the most because my disortation was a lot like yours. May you find the comfort and peace you need at this time.
Hi Laurie,
I've finally watched the tribute to Leroy. It was pretty much what I expected to see. But listening to his voice, so strong, makes the reality not so real. Thank you for sharing those moments with us. We will miss him very much, and with remorse, wish we were one of those lucky, select people he called friend. P.S. It's also nice to put a face to his Laurie. I think you must have been one amazing team. Bless you, and thank you again.
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