This page is dedicated to my daughter, Jill who passed away after a two year battle with leukemia. From the moment Jill was born, she was a sweetheart. We wanted a little girl so much to complete our family. She joined me, her dad and brother Brian on January 29, 1981. She was a joy to have around her entire life, always easy-going, happy and caring. Everywhere she went she was loved. Everyone she met loved her. She touched many lives her short time here. She was my best friend. Jill grew up playing softball. She was quite a good pitcher for the various teams she played on from the time she was eight years old until high school. Jill had a special way with small children and was always in demand for babysitting. Any kids she babysat always wanted her to come back and sit for them again and all her friends' younger brothers, sisters, nieces, nephews or whatever the case may be, all adored her. Jill loved her yellow lab, Buddy and black lab, Holly. I know they miss her too. She had a special love of dolphins and collected all kinds. She always wanted to swim with them someday. She loved riding roller coasters. Her favorite place on earth was 6 Flags Great America. Jill was attending college during her illness. She wanted to be a computer animator. I'm sure she would have been great at it. Jill was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia 2 weeks after her high school graduation. Our lives have not been the same since. She immediately underwent chemotherapy in preparation for a stem cell transplant. She spent 4 weeks in the hospital and came through the transplant very well. After several weeks of recovery and checkups, she returned to work and began to attend college classes. Her remission lasted one year. With that checkup a relapse was discovered. Her only option was an unrelated bone marrow transplant. We were told then that her chances of a cure were about 40%. With such devastating news weighing heavily on us all, Jill showed courage I could never live up to. She looked forward to Thanksgiving that year. She continued to work and attend classes just as if nothing was wrong. She had a happy and enjoyable Christmas knowing what was to come. I will never forget how brave she was. Then on Dec. 27, 2000 she returned to the hospital. She underwent radiation and chemo, then the transplant. She had good days and bad and rarely complained. Through it all we never gave up hope. We never wanted to think we would actually lose our precious Jill. But in March the complications were too numerous and we had to face reality that her time with us was over. Jill, I miss you more than words can say, every minute of every day. I miss being your mom and your friend, your smile and sense of humor. I miss talking and laughing with you. I miss those mornings when you would come into my room and ask if you could wear something of mine and I miss asking if I could wear something of yours. I miss worrying about you when you were out late at night and the relief I would feel when you walked through the door to tell me you were home safe. I miss asking your opinion on anything I wasn't sure of. You could always help me make a decision on anything from decorating the house to what clothes to buy. You were so level headed, the kind of daughter any parent would be proud of. You always did the right thing and I appreciated that more than you ever knew. You always followed your heart. You knew what you wanted and if you could have stayed, I know you would have realized all of your dreams. I miss all the things we will never see you do. My heart shattered into a million pieces when I lost you. There is an empty space in my life that can never be filled. So until we meet again, all I have are so many precious memories and I will hold on to them tightly and never let them go. All my love, Mom When tomorrow starts without me, and I'm not there to see. If the sun should rise and find your eyes, all filled with tears for me; I wish so much you wouldn't cry, the way you did today. While thinking of the many things, we didn't get to say. I know how much you love me, as much as I love you, and each time that you think of me, I know you'll miss me too. But when tomorrow starts without me, please try to understand, that an angel came and called my name, and took me by the hand, and said my place was ready, in heaven far above, and that I'd have to leave behind, all those I dearly love. But as I turned to walk away, a tear fell from my eye, for all life, I'd always thought, I didn't want to die. I had so much to live for, so much yet to do; it seemed almost impossible I was leaving you I thought of all the yesterdays, the good ones and the bad, I thought of all the love we shared, and all the fun we had. If I could relive yesterday, just even for awhile, I'd say goodbye and kiss you and maybe even see you smile. But then I fully realized that this could never be, for emptiness and memories would take the place of me. And when I thought of worldly things I might miss come tomorrow, I thought of you, and when I did, my heart was filled with sorrow. But then I walked through heaven's gates, I felt so much at home. When God looked down, and smiled at me, from His great golden throne, He said, "This is eternity, and all I've promised you". Today for life on earth is past, but here it starts anew. I promise no tomorrow, but today will always last, and since each day's the same day, there's no longing for the past. But you have been so faithful, so trusting and so true. Though there were times you did some things, you knew you shouldn't do. But you have been forgiven and now at last you're free. So won't you take my hand and share my life with me? So when tomorrow starts without me, don't think we're far apart, for everytime you think of me, I'm right here in your heart.