To all of our dearest family and friends, this is by far the most difficult update we have had to write. In the early morning hours of Sunday, January 17th, 2010, our beloved two-year old daughter Callie Elizabeth Sullenberger lost her 11 month battle with childhood cancer. She passed away quietly and painlessly with us at her side.
Words cannot begin to express our loss. As our one and only child, Callie was and will always be the absolute center of our lives. She touched the hearts of everyone she met and even those she didn’t. She was truly an angel in life and she will forever be an angel in heaven.
Callie was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma cancer on February 16th, 2009, and from that day on we devoted our lives to curing her. We spent countless days, weeks, and even months, away from home caring for her every step of the way...we never left her side. She had the largest support group imaginable, and the love she received and continues to receive is unmeasurable. She fought her disease courageously to the end, and amazed all the doctors, nurses and aides with her amazing ability to quickly recover from the many hurdles that she encountered during her treatments.
Callie was a loving child. She would hug and kiss everyone she met and would tell them she loved them. Her smile would fill the hearts of everyone with love and admiration. She will be sadly missed by all, but we know she is in a better place and has more power to do good from the heavens above than here on earth. She will be an angel for all childhood cancer sufferers and will be at their bedside through the hardest of times. And when god decides that other children are ready to join his kingdom, Callie will take their hand and lead them to the gates of heaven.
“We love you Callie-bug, with all our hearts. We miss you so very much. The short time we had with you was the best time of our lives. You will be forever be engraved in our memories. We offered ourselves to god in hopes he would cure you and take us instead, but he had other plans for you. These are the hardest times we will ever have to endure, but we will survive knowing you are always with us in spirit. We love you honey...” - Mommy and daddy.
Friends will be received in the Richard R. Herod Funeral Home in Point Marion, PA, on Friday, January 22nd, and Saturday, January 23rd, from 2 - 4 P.M. and 7 - 9 P.M., and Sunday, January 24th, until 2:00 P.M., the hour of service, with Joe Condoluci, Minister, and Rev. Fred Tomlinson officiating. Interment follows in Wolf’s Cemetery, Dilliner, PA.
In lieu of flowers, we suggest memorials be offered to WVU Children’s Hospital Child Life Department c/o WVU Foundation, P.O. Box 1650, Morgantown, WV 26501.
Love,
Michael and Lisa
