Willa Alexsandra Fischer
July 5, 2004 – June
25, 2008
“Pooh, when I’m- you know- when I’m not doing Nothing, will you come up here sometimes?”
“Just me?”
“Yes, Pooh.”
“Will you be here too?”
“Yes, Pooh, I will be, really, I promise I will be, Pooh.”
“That’s good, “ said Pooh.
“Pooh, promise you won’t forget about me, ever. Not even when I’m a hundred.”
Pooh thought for a little.
“How old shall I be then?”
“Ninety-nine.”
Pooh nodded.
“I promise,” he said.
Still with his eyes on the world Christopher Robin put out a hand and felt for Pooh’s paw.
“Pooh,” said Christopher Robin earnestly, “if I--if I’m not quite-” he stopped and tried again-“Pooh, whatever happens you will understand, won’t you?”
“Understand what?”
“Oh, nothing.” He laughed and jumped to his feet. “Come on!”
“Where?” said Pooh.
“Anywhere,”
said Christopher Robin.
A.A. Milne
Sweet dreams form a shade,
O’er my lovely infant’s head.
Sweet dreams of pleasant streams.
By happy silent moony
beams.
Sweet dreams with soft down,
Weave thy brows an infant crown.
Sweet sleep angel mild,
Hover o’er my happy
child.
William Blake
From “A Cradle Song”
Officiant……………………………………………………Brad
Ham
Soloist “The Water is Wide”………………………Mark
Biesterfeld
We are very grateful for all the love
and support you have given us. If you would like to do something in
memory of Willa, please look into the two charities below who will use
your gift well. Thank you for coming today.
Henry, Stacy, and Harper
The Raymond Wentz Foundation Relay for Life
(www.raymondwentz.org)
Yes, Willa would have approved of this
setting. She had a real attention to detail, especially when it involved
bright colors, flowers, music, and poems. She also would have soaked
in the love and support, as so many people have come from Denver and
from all over the country.
I would like to apologize to Willa…
As you know, Willa had quite a sense of style. She did not have much
patience when Dad could not find the right shirt to match her arm-warmer,
leg-warmer, and necklace ensemble. Nor did she approve when Dad presented
Harper at breakfast in what he thought was a reasonable outfit.
But, Willa recognized our strengths and weakness. She turned to Mom
for arts and crafts, fairy tale plot summaries and accessories, and
looked to Dad for a walk in the park or woods.
I feel we do not have to apologize
to Willa for the quality of car she received this past year. Our deep
felt thanks go to her oncologists, Kerry Moss and Tim Garrington, and
the rest of The Children’s Hospital staff who gave everything they
had. Our visits started at check-in with Gail who, indeed, had her hands
full when the Fischers and all of Willa’s companions, arrived. Gail
made Willa and her friends feel at ease as she gave name tags to her
babies, Oscar and Oscar’s twin sisiter Frank, Sarafina Peccala, Julie,
and the many others. Aubrey then checked Willa’s (and her babies’)
vital signs; Wanda eased Willa into her port access; and the nurses,
attendings, and volunteers took it from there. We are also grateful
for the expert input from specialists in Denver and around the country
who helped guide our decisions.
Our grief began with Willa’s cancer
diagnosis in the middle of June last year. As I sat at Willa’s side
and gazed at her beautiful body, the thought of the ravages to come
was almost unbearable: radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and who knew
what else. One ear later, we contemplate Willa’s life cut short, and
it is impossibly sad.
In a world of grief, we were sustained
by Willa and the love that has poured forth from so many people.
Somehow Willa continued developing throughout this past year and even,
at times, thrived. The cancer and treatment indeed took its toll, but
in some ways she took on a more angelic persona as she found her way
into princess dresses and her paralyzed vocal cord made for a high-pitched,
dreamy voice. And, Willa’s sweet smile did not disappear until the
last few days of her life. Beautiful acts of love and compassion
sprung forth from Willa’s diagnosis, including fund-raising walks,
so many charitable donations, and immeasurable support from family and
friends. Willa’s courage and acceptance also lend perspective, helping
us let go of out day-to-day frustrations which are ultimately meaningless.
Our grief will expand and evolve in the months and years to come. We are sustained by the love and compassion that arose from Willa’s journey and that will continue to grow. For love transcends all.