Do You Remember Me?

It was March 9, 2009 and a question Donna asked over and over..

Donna had been admitted to Duke University in Durham, North Carolina on December 1, 2008, and 99 days later, she was back in her home state of Virginia. It wasn’t back on the top of Bent Mountain where she lived, but it was at least familiar territory near family and friends. Donna was being returned to Roanoke Memorial Hospital where she spent a significant amount of time in 2007 after being diagnosed with leukemia.

Not healthy enough to ride in car, Donna made the 150 mile trip from Durham to Roanoke Memorial by ambulance, but that couldn’t dim her spirit because she was going "home." She could not wait to be back in Virginia. Donna was on top of the world and felt wonderful. She even somehow convinced the ambulance crew to stop at Wendy’s on the way and buy her some French fries! I will never pass Wendy's again without thinking of you, Donna.

Once she was settled in her room on the oncology ward at Roanoke Memorial, every time she encountered a nurse or caregiver Donna asked the question, “Do you remember me?,” even during the most private of times when a caregiver helped Donna to the bedside commode. After pulling the curtain, the caregiver was going to leave the room to give Donna some privacy. As the caregiver approached the door, from the other side of the privacy curtain she heard Donna call out to her, “Oh, hey, by the way …Do you remember me?” Later that day as Donna rested in bed and visited with one of her daughters, she got a chill. There were never enough blankets to keep Donna warm. Monica asked if she would like a heated blanket. Donna told her that would be nice. Monica got up to go find one, but Donna told her to just sit still and she’d call a nurse. After pushing the call button, a young man answered, “May I help you, Mrs. Sowers?,” to which Donna replied, “Yes…Do you remember me?” I can just picture this young man trying to figure out how he was supposed to remember a voice in the wall, but he kindly said, “Yes, I believe I do.” That excited Donna. The young man listened patiently while Donna talked on and on about how happy she was to be back home, close to her family and friends, and back at Roanoke Memorial. After a bit Donna added, “And, oh yeah…could you bring me a heated blanket?”

Yes, Donna, we remember you. We remember what a loving wife you were, loving your husband as God loves us, even putting up with his “true stores!”

We remember you as the nurturing mother of 5 beautiful daughters, and the grandmother of soon to be 14. No matter what was going on in your life, you always had time for your family.

We remember you as a daughter, a first born. You were the child who taught our parents how to be parents.

We remember you as a sister, our Big D. You cut the path for the rest of us, setting the example, and showing us what being a sibling is all about.

We remember your bright smile and shining eyes; we came to call you Bright Eyes.

We remember your infectious laugh. We remember it because you always laughed twice; once when the punch line was delivered and everyone else was laughing and once all by yourself 20 minutes later when you finally “got it.”

We remember what a good sport you were to let your siblings endlessly pick on you---well, Jan, Carolie, and Dave anyway; I would never be so insensitive and unkind. :-)

Mostly, Donna, we remember you as a faithful, obedient child of God. You always put God first in your life. Your faith never faltered; not even in sickness. You turned your eyes upon Jesus and never looked away.

The morning following your passing was a Sunday morning. My first thought when I awoke was, I’m not going to church today. It was “Celebration Sunday” at Oak Grove and I was not going to go face all those happy, smiling people when I was hurting so deeply inside. Then I remembered you. You never missed an opportunity to worship the Lord. I knew at that moment I was going to church and I was going to celebrate!

The service opened with the preschool and elementary children’s choirs singing. I remembered you, Donna. I remember how much you loved children. You always had time to stop and talk to and hug a child. You loved teaching them and watching their faces as they learned about the Lord.

The service then followed with the congregation singing two songs. We first sang Sunshine in My Soul followed by He Keeps Me Singing. I remembered you, Donna. You loved to sing and used your gift to sing praises to God. The Lord was your sunlight. It was His love that kept you singing.

Dr. Hall then delivered his message. I looked at my outline and the sermon was titled, “Are we at the finish line or the starting line?” I remembered you, Donna. You crossed the finish line of your service here and hit the starting line of your eternity in Heaven. It’s what you lived your life for, every moment of every day.

The scripture reference for the first point of the sermon was 2 Corinthians 8:5…”they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.” I remembered you, Donna. That one scripture summed up your entire life. You always gave yourself to the Lord first.

Today I wear two necklaces. The first was put there July 18, 2008. It was a gift from Ken, a representation of his love by giving the symbol of love, the cross of Jesus. The second was placed there on March 24, 2009. It is an angel – a necklace that belonged to you, Donna. Within a short period of time, the two necklaces tangled and intertwined. I reached up to my neck to untangle the chains, but then stopped. I remembered you, Donna. You lived your life much like the angel on my neck, clinging to the cross of Jesus. I left the necklaces tangled together and now when I reach up and feel them so close together, I remember you, Donna. It reminds me to live my life the same as you lived yours, clinging to the cross.

Yes, Donna…we remember you, and I can just imagine that on March 21, 2009 when you entered the gates of Heaven the Lord was there to greet you saying, You Always Remembered Me.