As spoken by Jeanne Ridley

I have the belief that we all have a purpose in this life. That things happen for a reason, and that good comes from everything.

On Feb. 3 1976

Laura Jean Reifenheiser was born, and that minute, she started her purpose

I will never forget the look in my father’s eyes the day he came home from her birth and told us that we had a baby sister.  So in awe, So in love.  I knew, without even seeing her yet, that I was in love with her too. 

When She came home I followed mom everywhere and I’m sure I drove her crazy. I wanted to experience every part of her.  She was miraculous beautiful gift. I decided I would be her best friend and her mother too.

Everything about her was special unique and wonderful. 

From her red hair to her little chubby toes. 

With every phase of her new life we fell more and more in love with her.

Her infectious smile and giggle, that became this mischievous chuckle when she got near our pets.

They were there for her amusement. I actually think she gave our dog Bridgett brain damage. Dad called her Bridgett the wonder dog.  And it’s a wonder that the dog kept going back to perform more of Laura’s amusing circus stunts.

And her gift of song. Her true passion.  I saw her turn a loud busy room to silence with her voice...  It always brought tears to my eyes. To many eyes.

The way she just inhaled life and made the world seem so delicious. She always kept me giggling and wanting more of her .I just loved to be with her…

 We sang and made up songs, we would set up camp in the living room and have pee wee Herman marathons, reciting every line of the movie, laughing uncontrollably. Mom and Dad would either be rolling their eyes at us or laughing at our silliness. Making fun of mom and dad was always fun too….We had so much material to work with!

 As soon I got my driver’s license I was right down to North Middlesex High School getting Laura dismissed for a doctors apt. which became a trip to the beach, or shopping, or just going out to play.  …..Sorry mom.

She had an ability to make a person feel special the minute she met them. Her compliments were always generous.  She wanted you to know how special you were.  . It was impossible not to fall in love with her.  She had a nurturing caring quality that was   natural and sincere.

I just adored her. We all adored her…..

..And then she became a teenager, and I chucked that whole mother thing right out the window and got myself an apartment!

Still, she shined and moved into adulthood, adventurous and brave.  She ventured off to pursue life and its challenges.

And she had her beautiful Brody.  She loved him so very much.  Laura was so in awe that she could be part of such a miracle.

Life was not easy.  And we don’t know when it happened, but, She became a prisoner to a terrible disease.   A disease that is so misunderstood. So powerful.   Laura did not want this.  No one does.

So finding the good in a tragedy like this is not easy.  But while we were in the hospital watching Laura Jean fade into her next life we began to see so much good.

As we camped out in the waiting room, our friends began to trickle in.  The love and support that filled that room helped to give us the strength to get thru.  You are such extraordinary people.  You knew just when we needed hugs and when we needed to just be quiet. You even got us laughing. Thank you so much.

And then at home.  We did not have to worry about food, or beverages.  Beautiful meals were prepared and sent to our homes. Friends and Family filled our houses with love and support. We even had a few little elves come in and clean while we were out.  ….Thank you.

The women from the Grace house came to say their goodbyes to Laura.  We saw the love they all had for her.  We heard how she inspired and encouraged them, we saw how heartbroken they were to say goodbye to their friend .They all told us what a gift she was to them.  When she knew one of them was down, she would give them a list of all of their good qualities.  One of the women read her list to us.  We could see how deeply it touched this woman. How deeply she touched all of them.

They gave us pictures of Laura and she looked so very happy.  What a comfort it was for us to see that. It was what we always prayed for, for our Laura.

The most amazing good that came from this….

As we sat by Laura’s side grieving for her, the family of a 14 yr. Old boy was praying for a miracle.  He received Laura’s heart.

A 26 year old woman received her lungs and a 60 yr. Old man received her Liver.

Even in the tragic loss of our Laura, miraculous good came from it.  She gave the gift of life.

My wish for you and your good that can come from this.  Call your Laura, your brother, your parents, your friend…or send them a card.  Tell them that you love them.  Because when you, or they are in their final moments of life, you are not going to be thinking about that fight you had, or who was right. You won’t be thinking about being disappointed or angry.  You will to want to know that you loved them and that you were loved.   In the end, and more important, now, what matters most is love.

Please leave here with the Lord in your heart.  He will give you strength and comfort.