Thank you from Courtney's family

[bubb2]

This is an open letter to all Sailneter's


I don't know if you know, that for some time now you have been carrying the Clevenger family on your shoulders. It has been a long journey for us. Like any journey it has had it's up and downs. But through it all Sailnet was there for us.


The out pouring of kindness and love to us was overwhelming. It saw us through many days.


I would set next to Courtney's bed and read the posts to her. When she got cards from Sailneter's I would read them to her and she would tell me what to post in return in her name. You have no Idea how that interaction between Courtney and I everyday was so important. We looked forward to the time as it was always a highlight of the day. It took our minds outside of the hospital and every thing going on there.


I know I am taking a risk here as I wish to name and thank many of you personally but to those of you I forget it is not intentional it is a memory thing, ask the social worker!


Thanks to; hog, dog, cam,dad, rain,jrd, Craig,PB,Gui (Alex),Paul and Cuban,JohnR, Knot,T34C,Rev. Mike,Simon(good on you),Djevans,bestfreind, and many more. Thanks is not enough but it is what I have to give.


To Guy, What a Guy. Thank you for coming to the hospital and to the services. Thank you for your post about the service. Thank you for the blue berries they go great with coco puffs.


Tim and Julie; Thanks is not enough. Coming to the hospital as many times as you did. You were here for the visitation and the service. But most of all you, picked up the ball and kept Sailnet informed by your posts. I could not do that at that time. I don't know if I could today.


I want to share with you a story of Courtney while she was in the hospital. She was being attended to by an aid named Gloria, who in her own right is a Angel having lost a daughter to cancer also. I came in to Courtney's room and Gloria was on the other side of the bed taking Courtney's blood pressure. Courtney did not hear me come in as her attention was directed towards Gloria. Gloria put her finger to her lips so I would not say anything. Courtney was telling her that with all her brothers and sisters she didn't have every thing that all the other kids in town had. Then she said but, “I had Love and lots of it.” She said that love is free that's why my mom and dad gave me a bunch of it. Gloria then said to Courtney, honey I see you give love to everyone. Courtney said “It's all I have to give away.”


On behalf of Courtney's family I thank you one and all. Please take the love that Courtney felt for each and every one of you and give it away to your fellow man. It won't cost a dime and you will be a better person for it, but most of all that is what Courtney would want you do with it.


All she left behind was Love, That's Some Legacy.

[werebeagle]

And that's a legacy that will live on.

Mike, my thoughts and prayers are still with you and yours. Don't hesitate to call if there's anything I can do.

[Giulietta]

HEy man...that's what friends are for!!!

Don't mention....

Alex

[PBzeer]

Mike - I have no doubt that everytime I raise the anchor or leave a dock, that Courtney will be up there looking out for me. Not for anything I have done for her, or her family (as little as that seems compared to what all of you gave to us), but because that is who she is. With her as my beacon and guide I can make my way safely amongst the shoals and reefs of hard times and hard people, knowing my course is true.

Though far too short, Courtney's life is truely one that is worthy of celebration and joy.

[Cruisingdad]

All our thoughts are still with you.

Brian

[knothead]

Mike,
I will forever be amazed by the impact that your precious little girl had on me and so many people here. I can say without reservation that I have shed more tears reading about her than anything else in my life for a long time. And that's not a bad thing.
I wish I could have met her, but somehow I feel that I got to know her a little anyway.
Whenever I have an opportunity to dance for the rest of my life, I will smile as I remember Courtney.
Whenever life throws me a curve ball and my heart aches, I will remember the grace and strength that Courtney taught me.
Thanks again for sharing her with me.
I can't wait to meet her so that I can thank her in person.

[eryka]

Funny ... I had been thinking about Courtney on the drive in to work this morning, thinking about how cool it was that you trusted all of us with her story. What did it take to start that first "all I want for the new year, one more sail" post, not having any idea what response you'd get?

We are all richer for having "known" her

[Stillraining]

Mike ...Even without your "Thank You" Im afraid your getting the short end of the stick.


THANK YOU..

We will never forget as we've been forever... Touched by an Angel

[sailingdog]

Mike-

You and your family are very welcome. Going through what you went through with Courtney is very difficult at best... and giving you what encouragement and support I could was the least I could do as someone who has been there myself.

If there's ever anything I can do, please let me know.

[cardiacpaul]

Mike and Family,

We're the lucky ones.
Rosa and I never had the opportunity to meet Courtney or her family, but we feel like we know you all.
Thank you for sharing with us.

We complain... Ok, I complain. My brother even told me that I suffered from "bitchitis", go figure.
We complain about our health, the weather, the thinness of our wallets, our jobs, how the high heels pinch our feet. (ok, not me, Rosa, gimme a break willya?)

But in sharing the strength, faith, hope and love that your family has shown in these trying times, our 'problems' don't amount to a pile of beans. You've shown us love, strength, fortitude, and caring.

We indeed, are the lucky ones to have known you and your family, and aspire to have the same faith and outlook as y'all have shown us.

Thank you,
Godspeed.
Paul & Rosa