A letter from Julie Sheridan
No mother could ever be more proud of her daughter.  I was in awe of you.  I can remember one afternoon when you came home from middle school you were sitting across from me in the front room telling me about your day - you were so animated - and I thought to myself "where the heck did this beautiful kid come from?"  I still couldn't believe you were mine.

During your years managing the boys basketball team I would watch you at the games and see how the adults were all drawn to you - you had such a way about you  with adults and little kids - I always use to think you had an "old soul".  Even  when you were really young - some of the things you would say just reminded me of an older person saying. At those games I would also watch you with the coaches and the boys on the team and the kids in the stands - you always gave them your full attention and didn't ignore anyone.  You were so genuine and kind.

When you were diagnosed with the brain tumors and went through all the surgeries and treatments and ups and downs, again you amazed me.  You just went with the flow - you didn't let it get you down - you didn't let it take over your everyday life.  I use to think back to when I was your age and knew I would have been a wimp, along with pretty much everyone else I knew at your age.  I never knew where you got that strength.  It amazed me that you were such a great patient (except when you wanted that tube out of your throat after the first throat surgery).  You were so upset and everyone was trying to calm you down, and I just stood there and sobbed - I couldn't do anything for you  Two days later you were telling me that that surgery wasn't bad at all. 

When your friends were planning that fundraiser for you and you asked if you could take $1,000 or $2,000 out of it to buy stuffed animals for the kids at Children’s.  So on Thanksgiving you got the ads and saw the stuffed animals with blankets on sale so we had to go the day after.  So, 7.00 A.M. were at Kohl’s loading their inventory carts full of those animals and the manager asked if you wanted to buy the clearance ones in back too from last Easter and you said yes so 350 animals later (2 vans trips full) we packed our garage and Peggy’s and then you delivered them to Children’s, Shiners, Comers and Guardian Angel.

Every year since you were 16 years old you called into the US99 St. Judes telethon and pledged $30.00 a month.  Who does that at your age?  I continue the tradition in your memory. 

At your wake I heard a few stories of your kindness.  One girl from your middle school came and she hadn't seen you since middle school because she went to a different High School.  But she told me that she wasn't popular and nobody really was her friend but you always talked to her.  She said "Jeanine would see me in the hall and she would make a point of coming up to me to see how I was doing and talk to me.  She said you never knew how much that meant to her".
 
And then Amanda's mom told me the story about how when you were in poms but Amanda didn't make the team and the other girls just kind of blew Amanda off but you always included Amanda in everything.  The girls would make plans and you would say "That sound good - I'll see if Amanda can come".  Amanda's mom said how you treated Amanda earned a place in their hearts - they loved you so much.  And then all the friends that you had that were boys - I used to think they hung out with you because you were so pretty.  I found out that they loved hanging out with you because you were such a great listener.    When I think of words that best describe you I would say brave, kind, assertive, stubborn, opinionated, driven, loyal, friendly , a great sense of humor and  beautiful - INSIDE and out.   I remember you told me once that a good time to you is having a beer around a campfire with friends just talking and laughing.   I like to think that you get to do that in your heaven.    I love and miss you so very much,   Mom