BONUS: Soul Magic

AMY’S HEARTS OF LOVE
by Linda Johannessen

On March 23rd, 1995, at the age of 17, our daughter Amy Johannessen was diagnosed with Acute Mylogenous Leukemia. She died on July 26th, 1999 after multiple relapses.

While a patient at Hasbro Children’s Hospital she began a support group for teenagers with cancer. It got off the ground with the help of The Tomorrow Fund. The Tomorrow Fund (www.tomorrowfund.org.) provides financial and emotional support for children with cancer who are treated at Hasbro Children’s Hospital, and their families. Today, more than 90% of children in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island are treated in the Tomorrow Fund Clinic. Amy was appreciative of the help The Tomorrow Fund gave to the teenagers and wanted to give back to the hospital. On various occasions she enjoyed making at home and selling in the hospital lobby, chocolate lollipops with the proceeds going to The Tomorrow Fund.

She also became involved with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society doing fundraising telethons. In addition, she became an advocate for the National Marrow Donor Program. She volunteered her time at bone marrow drives when the organization was searching for a donor for a child or an adult. She also organized fundraisers for friends she met at the hospital to help offset family expenses. She did it all with great love in her heart.

There isn’t much a sick teenager can do when they are really feeling down and out from chemotherapy’s effects. So, sometimes Amy would color. She said that when she colored it reminded her of being a little child. And when she was in that mindset, she didn’t think about all the teenage things in life she was missing.

She spent many days working on a particular project. It certainly wasn’t an original piece of art, but only a floral poster splashed with vibrant shades of colored markers. But I thought it was beautiful! After she passed I considered donating to the Clinic in her memory, but I couldn’t part with it.

Amy would have celebrated her 30th birthday on September 13th. We wanted to do something special to commemorate the day. Nothing would make her happier than to continue raising money for The Tomorrow Fund kids.

This Murano Millefiore heart necklace symbolizes the love Amy had for life, for family and for friends. It is also a sweet remembrance of her “Heart of Love” floral poster.

The necklace only costs $36 and all proceeds of Amy’s Heart of Love necklaces will be donated to The Tomorrow Fund.

Click on the picture below if you’d like to purchase Amy’s Heart of Love to support The Tomorrow Fund.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, AMY!!

~Linda Johannessen~