Sister Stories from Our Visitors

Hannah, Okeechobee, FL

My sisters Sarah (23), Rebekah (16) and I (17) grew up in Florida on a dairy farm.

Ever since we could walk, we have been hand in hand with our brother Hamilton (21) and our parents on the dairy. Following in our parents’ footsteps, we all started showing cows when we turned 8 years old.

Recently our youngest sister, and the baby of the family Rebekah, was diagnosed with cancer at the mere age of 14 and that brought our family closer and closer together.

We are about to begin my final show season in January and Rebekah has two more years. Sarah, though she is too old to show in 4-H, still enjoys helping us groom and getting our cows ready for the shows.

I love my sisters!!!

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From Katie, York, PA

My sister is 8 1/2 years older than me and the obvious is that with such an age gap, things were difficult at times.

That’s because I would want to play with her when she was busy doing reports for school. But if you flash forward to when she could drive me and my friends around, instead of our parents, this was time we both enjoyed greatly. We also spent a lot of time together ice-skating, shopping, watching movies, etc. the year before she got married. So of course I was a bit upset when I thought I was losing her to him.

What I didn’t know then was that I would soon marry too. The two of us had our first babies six months apart and the age gap was closed. We now had much in common and the rest didn’t matter. We were sisters and the best of friends. And even though we are now miles apart and she drives me as crazy as ever… I still love my sister and miss her deeply.

She’s the one who knows me best.

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Anjelica, Nipomo, CA

I’m one of 10 girls.

I have nine sisters from the same parents. Growing up was sometimes hard and we all came out so different. Now older with kids of our own, we can look back and laugh at some of the fights we had as kids. We have our parents to thank for keeping us close and for the bond between us, which is so powerful.

We all have different attitudes but when it comes down to it, we’re actually the same. We still stick together and share so much.

It’s crazy having so many sisters.

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From Maureen, N. Weymouth, MA

I have 5 sisters!!! We are very close and very good friends and range in age from 62–74.

I have not seen in any of your books more than 5 sisters.

We have lots of fun and vacation with each other. Well, at least 5 of us do, the sixth wants to stay home with her husband!

We are very proud of each other.

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From Linda, Lincoln, NE

My sister Cheryl and I grew up together, with me being the oldest by six years. We had our fights as siblings do growing while up. After I got married at 16, we still were involved in each other's lives. I was divorced after eight years of marriage and three daughters but I remarried and had a daughter by husband #2. Although miles separated Cheryl and me we were as close as we could be.

She then moved to the small town I was living in and four months later was involved in a car accident while two of my children were with her. My youngest daughter, Penny, was rushed to Denver, CO and my husband and I followed. She was in ICU for eleven days and passed away on April 7, 1972. My second husband at that time threatened my sister and her husband that she could never see me again and that we blamed her (he passed away five years later). It wasn't until a year after our Mother's death that we were reunited and she told me the story of what he had said to her. She thought I blamed her but I did not ever!

We are to this day very close and I love her with all my heart! Legally she is my half sister but I have never thought of her as that.she is my SISTER!

Thank you!

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From Stephanie, Bargersville, IN

I was adopted by the age of one. I only knew one family and I only had one brother.

Recently, I found my birth family and now I have two more brothers and one SISTER!!! I always wanted a sister to help me get ready for dates or the Prom. Someone to teach me the right way to put on make-up. Susy is 41 and I'm 36. We talk every single day! She tried to find me a few years ago but had no luck. I found her living only 15 miles away from me. No matter where I have lived, she has always been no more than 20 miles from me.

My sister and I laugh the same and tell stories the same. When we first talked, we both worked in real estate! Now she is married and is expecting her first baby. She and her husband are going to name it after me, Stephanie. I'm so excited that I'm gonna bust!! I can't wait to see the baby and see if it looks like one of mine when they were born.

I love my new sister. I'm so lucky to have found her.

Thank you!

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From Delphia, Bloomfield, CT

My parents had three children. I was the one who had to look after my older sister Louise and my younger sister HazelLee. I was the one in the middle and as the middle child was given the responsibility of taking care of them. My parents, who loved us all equally, placed it on me.

I had to help my sister with her Trigonomy homework, as well as helping my youngest sister to read and write.

I think about how lucky I am to have such wonderful sisters. We keep in contact by phone and I have a huge phone bill.

Unfortunately, we lost HazelLee to lung cancer this past Memorial Day. She will be missed!!!

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From Elizabeth, Philadelphia, PA

I was exactly thirteen years and nine months when my sister was born. It may seem strange that I know the amount of time I was without a sister so precisely, but I'd always wanted one. When I was three years old, my parents had called me from the hospital to say I was now a big sister...of a baby boy. Yuck. Desperately wanting a sister, I'd thrown the phone across the room and marched outside to tell all my grandparents' neighbors that my new sibling was named Emily.

I soon found that having a brother wasn't so bad, though I did find little ways of making my brother a sister substitute: giving G.I. Joe a love interest, painting his fingernails (on his insistence), and dividing our Matchbox cars into families instead of racing them. But when my parents told us they were having another baby after eleven years, I secretly hoped again for a sister.

With such a big age difference between the baby and me, people often felt compelled to call me a "built-in babysitter." I flinched every time they said that, because I wanted to be a big sister, not a babysitter. But having a sister that much younger than me was great. I can remember exactly what she was like as a child, how she'd plop down next to me while I finished my homework and try to mimic my writing with her crayons, and how I felt the first time I couldn't pick her up and carry her on my hip because she was too big.

It was hard leaving her when I went to college, and again when I moved to New York City and started working. Every time I see her, she's grown and changed so much, and it's difficult to know that I'm missing so many important moments in her life. But, on the other hand, her birthday this year was extra special to me once I realized that from now on, I'd always be less than twice her age. It's a reminder that as we both grow older, the age difference will be less and less, and we'll grow closer in many ways.

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From Kathleen, Idyllwild, CA

I have two sisters in Chicago where I was raised. I grew up with one of my sisters as a child, but then my mother got pregnant at the age of 46 and had twins, a girl and a boy. We are almost 20 years in difference of age.

Since I wasn't around day by day with my oldest sister as I was with my younger sister, it was more like she was my niece. But now, we are getting closer and have more of the sister relationship and the age gap is not as big anymore.

We've all had some incredible stories of survival. As far as me, I ended up having five children, which three are girls, and now they are ALL having babies of their own. We are so blessed and happy. My girls are beautiful inside and out despite a difficult up bringing due to me being a single mom and all of us seem to have had great accomplishments.

Thank you for reading about our story.

A very loving sister.

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From Molly, Gretna, NE

I have three older sisters. Patty, the eldest, who is a hair stylist, age 50; Debby, who owns a very successful company, age 45 and Kim, who is a career woman with a degree, age 41.

I am Molly and the youngest! I'm 34.

All of my sisters are married and have children and are terrific mothers except for me—I am married but have no children because I am still trying to figure it all out!

My mother died of breast cancer when I was six years old. LEAVING NOT ONLY US FOUR SISTERS, BUT ALSO THREE BROTHERS AS WELL! I have many memories of my mother but not as many as I would like. After our mother died all of us sisters and brothers were left in the abyss for a while but with the love us sisters and brothers have for each other, we have muddled through pretty well!

I am not sure but I think my Mom's plan in dying was (or maybe just her hope) to assure that her children would stay close! Well we did—especially us sisters!

I would not have survived without these creatures I call my sisters! My Dad had remarried when I was ten and it was the most peaceful time of my life! But when I rolled into my teens the situation had become more unlivable! Thank God my sisters were always there to rescue me from what became a not so peaceful situation. There were times without my sisters' pleasant distractions that I'm not sure I would have found my way to go on! Seriously!

At age 16 I felt I had no choice but to leave the situation and move in with my second oldest sister Deb and her incredibly nice husband! I was still a selfish teen but very thankful she took me in! We locked horns a time or two (she doesn't take static off anyone) and so when I needed to I would vent to my eldest sister Patty. She would preach patients and understanding and educate me that nothing that feels bad lasts forever and there is always room for hope! I would also turn to my sister Kim, who reminds me most of my mother, and she would just be there with unconditional love. So comforting!

At age 17 I thought I should give my sister Deb a break and moved in with my sister-in-law Cathy and my eldest brother. She was wonderful and wanted nothing more than to make me feel at home and completely welcome as well as did my brother! We locked horns too but only because she hated when I made her worry with my daring spirit! Her love was still there and so unselfish!

Eventually I graduated from high school and moved out on my own! I still had a lot of growing up to do and would some times find myself jumping from one sisters' house to the next! They used to lovingly call me "Molly the Nome" (short for nomad)!" I had a place to stay no matter what I was doing whether it was a room or just a couch! They were living every part of my life with me! All the good times, the bad times, the sad times and the times that don't even have a title!

They were my sounding boards and whipping posts—depending on the day!

As I look back I remember how sometimes the absence of my mother would almost cripple me with sorrow! —But if I stepped back and took a look I could see that each of my sisters was a different part of my mother:

Patty—Pretty, smart, stylish, with tons of patience and undying love.

Deb—Pretty, marching to the beat of her own drum, not willing to take static from anyone, never willing to settle!

Kim—Pretty, caring, smart, all about being herself no matter who thinks what, and bubbling over with all the love a person on the receiving end can ask for!

Cathy—Pretty, smart, all the get up and go a person can ask for, an angel sent down from heaven to purposely land in our family, probably sent by our mother herself!

I am most likely the luckiest sister of all because I have learned from all of them at once and have gathered all their qualities and here I am!

Now I am married and stay in one place—thank god! I still rely heavily on my sisters to guide me and they do! Now that I am older and so much wiser I feel like I sometimes return the favor and guide them as well! They sometimes don't listen but you know how stubborn sisters can be! Ha!

We take summer trips together and shopping trips too! We do plenty of teasing and laughing uncontrollably! I think it's comical how the pecking order is still so alive except when it comes to me! I will peck back at any one of them but only in the most loving way!

I appreciate the chance to say thank you to my dear sisters—I would be nothing without them!

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From Mary, Horseheads, NY

My sister and I were the best of friends. We were inseparable. Always doing things together. We supported each other in all phases of our lives through the good, bad and the ugly.

At this particular point in my life I had been married for about 4 years. I thought that I had the perfect marriage. A devoted husband, a good job, a beautiful house and a baby on the way. It was any woman's version of the American Dream. About 7 months after I gave birth to our son, I developed sever depression and I tried to commit suicide. I was hospitalized for about 3 weeks. After returning home, my husband was very supportive of my and really helped me get back up to speed with everyday life. UNTIL...I listened to our answering machine and heard a recording of a loving, intimate conversation between him and my best friend.My sister. I was stunned to say the least. I was shocked, horrified, devastated, hurt, mad, confused, and dismayed; all of these feelings went through me in about 30 seconds. There I sat on the edge of the bed. I couldn't even cry. I think that for a moment in time I didn't know how to cry. I didn't know how to move, think, and breathe. I was motionless.

I learned a lot about myself while I was in the hospital and it was those sessions that helped me gain my composure and gather my thoughts.

I confronted my husband and he confirmed that they had been having an affair for almost 2 years. Never once did I have any idea that this was going on. Never once did my "then" husband skip a beat or falter in any way that would make me believe that my "fairy-tale" marriage was anything less then perfect. I always thought that nobody in this world would have a better life then me. Well, I was wrong! Needless to say, I wanted nothing to with either of them. He moved out, and she tried to repair things with her husband. My sister and her husband stayed together, and I was divorced within 90 days. Luckily our son was only 2 at the time and really didn't have any idea of what life was about or what was going on. We both shared the custody and there was no fighting about that. Our son was never put in the middle.

All of this happened about 12 years ago. It completely rocked our family and things were very tense. My sister and I would pass each other in the grocery store and never even look at each other. I moved out of the state for about 10 years. I put my life back in order, and it gave me a lot of time to think about where my life was going. Time to think about the family and my sister. I came to the realization that no matter how bad things get and no matter what the circumstance, blood is always thicker than water. I returned to the area 5 years ago and since then have married again. I have repaired the damage between my sister and I and we are again very close. There are times that I don't completely trust her but our family is back together. My son is now 14 and has a wonderful life, sharing his time with both parents. My ex-husband and I are friends and get along very well. We just can't be married to each other.

People often ask my how can I be close to my sister again and I tell them, "she is my sister.that's how". After everything that I have been through and where I am now in my life, she did me a favor. After years of pondering about the horrible things that happened, now I know, it was the best thing that could have happened. I will never again look at my life as a "fairy-tale", but instead just be grateful for each day.

I truly hope that your readers have as happy an ending to their stories as I have had.

Thank you for letting me a part of your reader's family.

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From Hedy, Ronkonkoma, NY

On February 9, 1948 it rained. I was 6 years old and my mother was pregnant. Knowing she'd be ready to deliver her baby any minute now, she and my father bought me a pair of roller skates so I'd have something wonderful to mark the occasion when she went to the hospital. Mom went into labor that day and they gave me my present. Being a spoiled kid (we lived with my grandparents who did most of the spoiling) I insisted on trying out the new skates immediately-indoors. Naturally I managed to trip and fall on the edge of rug. They put me to bed with my left arm on a pillow and Dad took Mom to the hospital. Dad woke me at about 6:00 AM on the 10th to tell me my sister had just been born. I told him I'd really wanted a brother but he said there was no way to exchange her. He later took me to the doctor's office where I had a cast applied to my fractured arm.

Mom came home from the hospital several days later and they showed me my new sister. They'd given her the name I had chosen-Roberta Linda-and told me that I would have to help her to grow up. The first year there was no problem. We continued to live in Brooklyn with my grandparents, but then we got the new house in the suburbs of Long Island. It was then that I learned that being a big sister included a lot of responsibilities. When Mom was busy I had to entertain Robbie by reading her stories and playing baby games. As she grew we did puzzles and played house.

When summer vacations came along all I wanted to do was play with my friends or sit in the shade and read a book. I always complained that Robbie got in the way. After all, a six-year age difference meant we had very little in common. There was an incident when I was about 10 and Robbie was 4. We were both sick in bed and Mom had to go up the street to my Aunt's home to borrow something; of course, I was left in charge. We started to argue about some silly thing and I threw a shoe at Robbie. She ducked and the shoe broke the bedroom window and ended up in the driveway. When Mom got home I tried to blame it on my sister (she shouldn't have ducked, after all) but I was the one to be punished as the doer of the evil deed.

As Robbie grew older and started to go to school I was supposed to help her with her homework. I had very little patience with her and probably instilled in her a dislike for schoolwork. For that I'm sorry to this day. I loved helping her try new hairstyles and, later, to learn to use makeup. When she was in high school we managed to bury the hatchet and became friends. I helped plan her sweet sixteen party and then she helped me plan my wedding. She seemed happy to be a part of that. She was my maid of honor and was a beautiful one!

Robbie went to college in Boston a few years later. She met a young man, Bobby, in Boston and they got engaged. Robbie converted to Catholicism for him and this did not endear either of them to my very conservative Jewish parents. Mom and Dad refused to go to the wedding and although I attended the mass, I did not go to the reception. Shortly after they married, Bobby developed a brain tumor and my parents came around and renewed their relationship with their daughter and son-in-law. Before long Bobby died leaving my sister a very young widow; we all grieved for her.

Robbie remarried in June 1972 just before my husband and two children moved to Anchorage, AK. We communicated fairly often and saw each other when I visited NY. My mother passed away in February of 1973.

While I was still in Anchorage, Robbie and I had a stupid argument about money and didn't speak to one another for several years. In the summer of 1980, my husband and I divorced so I moved back to NY with my daughters so we'd be close to family and old friends. Heni, my ex-sister-in-law who is like a second sister to me, wanted me to call Robbie to tell her what had happened but I'm pretty stubborn and refused. At that time, I'd had a lump in my breast for several months but felt I couldn't deal with both that and the divorce so I didn't get it checked. By October (again at Heni's insistence) I made an appointment with a surgeon. Within a couple of days I was on the operating table. This time Heni ignored my stubborn wishes and called Robbie herself. In almost no time at all Robbie left her home in Rhode Island to come see me. We tearfully made up and have been very close ever since.

In 1984 I remarried and was happier than I had ever been. My husband, Bob, and I had enjoyed 13 wonderful years bringing up a shared family of 5 kids and 3 dogs, but in 1997 our bubble burst. My 17-year remission from cancer was over. I had multiple metastases and had to undergo very high dose chemotherapy, which necessitated the use of autologous stem cell transplants. I was extremely sick during this time. Bob's schedule at work had him off 2 days during the week and working most weekends. Robbie would leave her husband, Howard, when she finished work on Fridays and come to be with me so I wouldn't be alone. She took wonderful care of me; she cooked meals so Bob would have food during the week, she ironed his shirts, did laundry, and sat with me for hours trying to keep me entertained. On Sundays, she got back in her car and returned home. That went on for about a year and there were extremely few weekends she missed. I will be eternally grateful to her and so will my husband and kids.

I did have another short remission but in 2001 had to restart chemo. I'm still on that but I have not been as incapacitated as during the 1997-98 episode. Also, my husband retired and we've been able to spend lots of time together. I speak with Robbie on the phone at least once a day and we see each other as often as possible. We are closer than ever before. We have become SISTERS in every sense of the word!

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From Nancy, Bryn Mawr, PA

When this book first came out it wasn't even a struggle to ignore it. I'd pass it from time to time and quickly look for what else was around. Before I was 21 three of my four sisters had died and I wanted nothing to do with how other women were lucky enough to have someone who would always be there for them.

I supposed it's arguable, that from the moment we are born we start to die. But, as a little child, you never expect to walk home from school for lunch anticipating that grilled cheese sandwich or ambrosial PB & J, only to find that your new baby sister on the porch isn't really asleep, but instead has become part of the host of cherubim since you left that morning for second grade.

This presented quite a challenge for this eight-year-old mind, as I didn't know what to say to Mother Joseph Ines when I arrived back in the classroom late. If only my big sister, Maureen was here. She is so much older and a very smart student (the nuns LOVED good, smart girls.no trouble from them). Only Maureen was in a sanitarium in upstate Pennsylvania because the doctors had counseled my very young parents to put her there because she had something wrong with her. This pupil in the Baby Jesus reading group, only knew what it was, by its initials, TB.

As it turned out, the doctors had misdiagnosed her and, it became painfully clear that she was about to live a life of gasping for air and fighting for every breath. Maureen had Cystic Fibrosis and she never got to see Robin because for the six weeks that Robin was my new "live doll" to play with when I came home from school, Maureen was in South Mountain.

Maureen use to ask me what Robin looked like but never when my mother could hear us. All of her pictures were removed from the house so I guess we thought we were never to talk about the sister who happened to stop by for six short weeks.

Two years later Betsy came along and what a gift from God. She was the spit of my crazy grandmother with extra energy. Maureen died in 1971. She sat up in her bed at St. Chris' told the nurse to stop the treatment, looked at my mother, said thank you, and laid back and went to see Robin. We were still somewhat of a family with me running things. Why? I don't know. I only know that I adored Betsy and LOVED being her older sister. Yes, there was Kate as well but she and I didn't have between us what Betsy and I shared.

In the summer of 1973 it was blistering hot and I went to Ocean City with two friends. When I came home my brother told me to go to St. Christopher's because Betsy had been admitted. As I drove to North Philadelphia from Mt. Airy I knew it was a ploy by her as there has yet to be another great actress like Lilabet. She made Katherine Hepburn look like an amateur.

When I got off the elevator on the fourth floor I looked to the left and there, in the same room, on the same floor, in the same hospital as Maureen's last stay was Betsy. She died on Saturday, the same day of the week as Maureen.

All of the girls, like Cat Stevens sang, (were) . 'oh, very young.(you're) only dancing on this earth for a short while'. Of course, I thought I'd NEVER reach the age I'm at now but with a half of a century on the earth what I know is I miss having my sisters with me. I miss the sharing, the gossip, playing 'Name That Tune' before we went to sleep at night. I miss the advice (asked for or not). I never had a chance to be a bridesmaid or give a shower and take pictures of all of us. And I miss looking at books that show sisters who are each other's souls and who, given an opportunity, will choose her for a sister over and over.

I wish much success for the 10th anniversary edition of this book. I'd like to think that we would have been a great addition. I can just picture the process as I write. Kate would have gotten in touch with you, Maureen would have organized us and told us how, where, and when to pose, Betsy would have been front and center and me, I would never have been happier.

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From Phyllis, Rancho Palos Verdes, CA

I am an identical twin 54 years of age; I have a younger sister 50 and we all live in California.

About 5 months ago I suffered a mild brain stroke and with one phone call from my husband, my sisters were by my side, even though they live an hour away from me.

I have the strength of both my sisters who helped me recover.

I spent 3 weeks at my sister's house after I got out of the Rehab Hospital. I recently had a full hysterectomy and both of my sisters have been a great source of comfort for me. My twin sister took me to the movies 4 days after surgery -- couldn't even get my husband to do that -- only my sister truly understands me. Both my sisters do.

Our Mother broke her hip last year and at 88 years old, we had to put her in an assisted living residential house, close to my home as she needs a lot of care. We are very happy with this arrangement. We could not give her what she needs and are happy to have her there where she is well cared for.

I still visit her every day with the help from my husband, friend, and especially my sisters, until the day comes when I can drive myself.

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From Ellen, Valley Stream, NY

When I was 9 1/2 my Mother told my brother and I she was pregnant. I was so excited. Every night when I would go to bed, and I would lie awake and say my prayers. In my prayers I asked God for a sister. Already having a Brother, I really wanted a sister. I prayed intensely every night so that my wish would come true.

On the evening of August 27, 1971 my little sister, Carolyn Elaine was born. She was the smallest thing I had ever seen when my Mother brought her home from the hospital.

As time went on, ten years was a huge age difference. I was dating and my sister was an annoying little kid, driving my boyfriends crazy with her juvenile questions, and comments.

When I was 23 I was married to one of the boyfriends who was courageous enough to stick around through the questions and comments. She was 13; she cried the whole wedding, as did I she wasn't so terribly annoying anymore, so I started to actually like her. Unfortunately, I was not living at home, so we missed allot of time together.

At 27 I gave birth to my own daughter Amy, my sister Carolyn was her GodMother and is now one of her dearest friends. Three years later, I had another girl, Kelly Rose who also treasures my "little sister".

My sister is now 33 with a child of her own. This past year she was home with her baby, and we both really bonded a much deeper relationship with each other. I drove to her house every other day and we did so many things together that we never really did when she was growing up, because of the age difference.

This past summer, her husband accepted a great job in Maryland, which is about a three-hour ride from my house. We talk on the phone and e-mail as much as we can.

Even though we still talk I am so sad because talking isn't the same as seeing someone, and being with them. We lost so much time, when we were younger, and I feel sort of "robbed" because we really only had one year of real "sister" stuff.

I do envy my daughters, they share so much with each other and they are closer in age to each other that I am glad they will always have the other one. Whenever they fight, I always tell them, how lucky they are to see their sister, everyday and laugh and have fun with her, I don't have that luxury any more, and if I won a million dollars I would have her move back home.

There is no bond, than that of your own Sister!

Thank you!

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From Ginger, Lisbon, ND

I have an older sister and a younger sister. None of us are alike in any way, but we have a very close bond. Both of my sisters have now moved to Missouri. It was almost like a death in the family to me. I no longer can see them on a daily basis, but I have a huge phone bill!

We call each other about everything. Our favorite time to spend together is summer. We try to meet at the lakes in Minnesota, or at our parent's farm. We laugh a lot, cry a lot, and stay up all night talking. The distance has changed our daily visits, but it has not hurt our wonderful relationship.

That is what I feel is truly having family ties.

Thank you!

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From Catherine, Telford, PA

My sister Mary is one of a kind. She is a second mother to my five children. She has always stepped in to help my husband and me when sickness turned our lives upside down.

Fifteen years ago I had breast cancer, and now recently it came back with a vengeance to claim the other breast. After three operations and unable to take care of my family, my sister pitched in and did what ever had to be done, both times. My husband and I are forever grateful to her.

She is the best sister I have—of course she is the only sister I have.

That is our family joke.

Thank you!

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From Denise, Elyria, OH

I have two wonderful sisters—my identical twin sister Diane and my younger sister (of two years), Marla.

I have so many wonderful memories of our childhood growing up together. The three of us have a very special bond, and have been there for some of the most important and special times in our lives, our marriages, the birth of our children etc, as well as the difficult times.

Even though my younger sister lives in N.C. with her family we keep in touch, there isn't too many days that go by that we aren't in contact with one another. Thank God we have computers with email and IM!!

We have made it through a very difficult last past 8 years with the death of our Mother, who passed away after a two-year battle with Breast Cancer in 1996. Then in 1998, two years later our Father passed away while in his sleep at home, both at a young age of 58 and 66 years old. When something as devastating as a death of a parent hits your family it is important to keep the family intact as much as you can as a family unit!

Sometimes it is very difficult with the main anchor of the family gone, but I feel we have done a good job at accomplishing that. I have been so blessed that I have been given two sisters to lean on, and cry with in these times of my life. We are in constant support of one another and do all we can to help each of our families.

In February of this year my daughter Sarah, 13 years old, was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. My husband and I were devastated, and I know I would never have made it through this very difficult time in my life without the support of my sisters.

I feel our parents are smiling down on us and are proud of us. I know now why God has given me these 2 special women in my life, and I thank him everyday for the greatest gift in the world, my sisters. I love you both!!

Thank you!

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From Kay, Arlington, TX

My sister, Donna, was 2 years older than I and my only sibling. Last summer, Donna was diagnosed with breast cancer. She had one breast removed in July 2003 and began chemo in August. In late September after her third treatment, she was, as always after her treatments, nauseated and running a low grade fever. She called her doctor and he told her that he would want to see her if her fever got any higher. The next morning, her fever had shot up, so she went to see the doctor and she was admitted to the hospital by noon that day. She died just before midnight that same day, October 3, just 10 days before her 50th birthday.

Donna and I were best friends. We even bought a house together after college and were roommates for several years until she got married and moved. Then, after I got married and had my family, we moved so she and I could be closer to each other. Donna and I became especially close during those "Mommy" years. Donna and I were quite opposite—Donna was the organized, together sister and I was the crazy wild sister. I miss her dearly. I talk to her and cry every day. Since her death, I have taken on the responsibility of supporting and guiding her husband about how to run a household with three very active kids: Natalie, age 17; Nick, age 16 and Kim, age 12; keeping their school and extracurricular activity schedules organized.

In addition, my parents are elderly and my father is handicapped after suffering a stroke 5 years ago. I feel solely responsible for them now and try to keep track of them, their medications, doctors' appointments and day-to-day stuff.

I also have my own family: a husband, 10-year old triplets, a dog, a fish and 3 turtles. I have had my own business for the past 6 years but have decided that there is no time to run a business with everything else on my plate, so I am liquidating and shutting down.

Many times I wish that God had taken me instead of Donna because she would have been able to handle everything much better than I am. But everyone reminds me that God does not give you more than you can handle—I just wish that he/she did not have so much confidence in my abilities!!

Since I never really got to say goodbye to Donna, I wish I could have just one more day with Donna so I could tell her how much she has meant to me and what she has taught me through the years.

Thanks for letting me share my story of my beautiful sister. It really felt good.

Thank you!

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From Marlie, St. George, UT

Even though my mother gave birth to my sister Donna Jean exactly one year before I was born, I wasn't lucky enough to have a sister or sisters to grow up with; I had all brothers.

Donna Jean died the day she was born. I've spent 53 years always wondering what she might have been like, what she would have looked like and always celebrating her birthday every year with myself and a bouquet of flowers.

I talk to her in my head, I wonder if she would have looked like me or if we would have been good friends.

This past spring I flew from my state of Utah to the small town in Kansas where I was born and so were my parents, my brothers and my sister. I took my mothers ashes there so that I could spread them on her parent's gravesites. While I was there I found my sister's tiny grave and spread some of the ashes around it as well. I cried and I talked to my mother and to my sister that day.

I hoped that my mother would be happy now to be able to actually see Donna Jean because when she was born they didn't let her see her; I guess the Doctor thought it would be too much for my mother.

Feeling traumatized but very happy, I brought my mother and my sister together again. It was an experience I will never forget and will always treasure deep within my soul.

Thank you!

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