11 Dec 1999
Mission Springs Community Church, Milpitas California
Sharing Our Thoughts
I wanted to share a few things that were said just to give folks an idea of the impact she had on so many people out here in such a short time.
What I said:
We've all had the chance to get to know Paige, some better than others, but it was evident to all that she was different, and special. Her enthusiasm had a youthfulness and a sincerity that made it contagious. She could brighten a room just by being in it. The cancer she had defeated her body but never her spirit. She never lost her enthusiasm, optimism, or her giving spirit, even at her lowest point. She always had a smile and always sought to cheer someone else up. For example, during her first stay in the hospital after her initial surgery we were inundated with flowers. The outpouring of support was overwhelming. As the room was filling with vases and baskets, my first thought was to take some of the flowers home to brighten it up. Paige had other thoughts - she wanted to take all her extras and give them to other patients in the cancer ward that didn't have any flowers, or that didn't have anybody there with them. That epitomizes her spirit to me, even in a time when she couldn't walk and was struggling to sustain herself she sought to make somebody else's day better.
Later on, during her chemo we would often take drives as a means of getting out and seeing new sights in a manner that didn't tax her too much. During one such drive she insisted we change course and go to the hospital so she could see her friend Louise who was back in for cancer-related issues. My initial reaction was "I don't know, you're at a low point in your chemo, are you sure you're up for this?" I was hoping she'd change her mind and we could head home and just play it safe. Paige would have none of it and off to the hospital we went. She really cheered up Louise by being there since Louise knew what it meant to be down on chemo and knew how hard Paige fought to get there. This really touched Louise, and was very special since it was the last time Paige saw her. A week later Louise passed away. Had we played it safe Louise would have gone without having seen Paige again. I continually learn from Paige what it means to truly be generous.
When she was in the hospital herself she charmed the whole staff, from the wonderful nurses at the Women's Cancer Center to the battle-hardened nurses in the Critical Care Unit. Even the most grumpy caregivers melted in her presence and would ask to be given care of Paige on their shifts. The real Paige was a sweet little girl that never quite grew up, and was full of energy and optimism and fun. She demonstrated these qualities every day with a simple sincerity that disarmed you. I was immediately taken by this person when I met her and did everything I could to be around her as much as possible. That person within her persisted until the very end, never losing hope, and never giving in. I am blessed to have been given 3 years with her, and I left her not with goodbye, but "until we meet again."
Other notes:
- Many of the nursing staff from the Women's Cancer Center showed up and spoke about Paige. The nurses in this facility are experienced and have seen hundreds of patients, many of whom pass away. Yet they don't make a habit of going out of their way for everyone else they way they did for Paige. Just by their presence I was moved, and then several of them spoke about her and shared that she was their favorite little patient, ever. One of the nurses shared that she had children the same age as Paige, and that she thought of Paige as another family member.
- Some of her Ovarian Cancer support group showed up and spoke. These are wonderful people that know what she went through on a firsthand basis. Paige made some lifelong friends with people in this group in short order.
- Her folks spoke, and Bob summed it up pretty well with words from an old song. Paige was never really theirs, she was just loaned to them for a little while. Joan went on to say that Paige had always been her own little person, even when she was just a baby. Her personality and determination were evident from day one.
- The rest of the list is too long to detail - people from her work, from my work, from the church, from sports teams, from every area that Paige touched. Everybody's sentiment was the same, that they knew her as the fun little gal with boundless energy.
In Case You're Interested:
A cassette tape was made of the entire service. I can make copies and send them to whoever would like one. Just let me know via email (devinerob@aol.com) or call (510-713-8524).