For Rylie

A eulogy for my daughter. (Read at the graveside service)

Saving Rylie’s eulogy here in my Substack. SO much more to say about Friday but for now– just gratitude. Overwhelmed by the number of people, near and far, who showed up to honor her life. What a blessing to see how many lives were impacted by Rylie’s. So thankful to the various people who showed up in various ways to help make it the most beautiful service and gathering afterwards that we could have asked for.❤️

*Tentative date for the Celebration of Life is September 20th*

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Rylie lived as though pure joy coursed through her veins. She lived into who she was created to be, allowing nothing to dull the authentic joy that existed in her soul. She lived with more contentment than questions, more presence than worry. She anticipated the future but did not allow that anticipation to overshadow whatever was in the present. When you were with her- she was WITH you. For someone who the world often tragically overlooked, you always felt fully seen by her when in her presence. She welcomed anyone and everyone into her life and spoke to everyone as though they were known to her.

Her presence and light will be deeply missed, but we can only hope and pray that we can emit some of that light in remembering her example and life. For someone that the world may have seen as less than or UNable- she communicated more through her life and soul than anyone could with words. In fact it was so profound that no words exist to adequately express it, it could only be experienced.

She was a living picture of perseverance, determination, strength, courage, and love, all wrapped in perfect joy. A constant marvel and mystery to the medical world- she went out on her own terms, with her signature M.O. of stumping even the best of physicians. But really we know that the truth is that her body was tired. It had fought far more than most will ever experience in a lifetime. And while she had nearly accumulated every type of specialist to her care team, we find it no coincidence that the last one she added to her list was cardiology. Because it was her heart that ultimately sustained her these 20 years- both literally and figuratively. And for all she has been through, her heart finally got tired too. It was medically inexplicable why it tired so suddenly and rapidly these last few weeks, but when we think of all her body had been through it just made sense. She was just tired, and ready to rest.

Rylie's name means valiant, and valiant she was. And even in her death she taught us courage. Today we say goodbye, well done, rest in peace sweetheart. You deserve it.

We know her death will not overshadow her light. And we know that we can still carry her light within us. We can miss her, AND choose to keep on with all of the gifts she gave us so freely. We can all decide to live a life changed because of knowing her, while allowing ourselves grace to grieve losing her. And we can honor her life by remembering her example and allowing it to shape our own.

She was light. She was love. She was the best.

We let you go Rylie. Well done, queen.

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“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
John 1:5

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our bodies.”
2 Corinthians 4:7-10

*Psalm 139:1-16*

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