The poem below was written by my dear friend Molly Pearce, an amazing and wise young woman with an amazing and wise old soul. Born with a rare form of an intestinal condition called Hirshprungs Disease, doctors gave baby Molly Jo no chance of living to see her first birthday.
I became Molly's part-time caregiver when she was 3. The doctors spent a lot of time shaking their heads about the miracle of Molly surviving to that age. She was fed through IVs and with Pedia-sure through a pump that connected directly into her stomach. She could have nothing to eat except chicken broth and Popsicles - and eliminated through an ostomy bag. Her life was filled with trips to the ER, hospital stays, tests, surgeries, and pain... and yet, even at this young age - she was demonstrating her tenacious commitment to LIFE!
Molly lived. Every moment, she lived. She lived on the edge, never quite knowing how long she might be here - but that didn't matter. One of her favorite quotes was from the Buddha: "The trouble is, you think you have time." Molly wanted everyone to know that time is precious - and the way we spend it makes all the difference. Whenever she regained some strength, she was off and running. There was high school, and then college... she had jobs and rode horses (and mechanical bulls!), jumped out of airplanes, adored her animals, traveled to Paris, fell in love... all while going in and out of hospitals and having 37 major surgeries. When she got discouraged, she cried ... she talked about it... she move through it - and went on living. Hard to imagine how such a huge well of strength sprung from that thin, fragile looking body... but her life was the proof!
In May of 2013, after spending more than 7 months in a transplant hospital in Nebraska, with her damaged body failing organ by organ as she bravely waited for one rare 4 organ transplant donor, the hospital informed Molly and her family that she was being removed from the transplant list because she had grown too weak to survive the surgery. In a last push of love, friends, family and hospital staff came together to give Molly one of the things she wanted most - a wedding. Propped with pillows in a wheel chair, skin yellowed from toxins in her body and barely able to keep her swollen eyes open, Molly, still beautiful in her wedding dress - hair coiffed and makeup done - exchanged vows with the love of her life and become Mrs. Corey Eaker.
24 years and 7 months after the doctors said she could not live... 24 years and 7 months of Molly giving and loving and growing and sharing and caring and LIVING in spite of incredible odds - her mighty spirit finally agreed with her body that there had been enough pain for this lifetime. At 1:11AM on June 4, 2013, the earth slowed for a moment and watched in awe as our beloved Molly Jo took flight to begin the next leg of her Grand Adventure.
I am only one of literally thousands of people that Molly touched with her courage, humor, beauty, tenacity, generosity and compassion. She is deeply missed by so many - and right this very minute - I am intensely aware of the Molly shaped hole in me that will never really be filled again.
I miss you Mollywog. Thanks for staying so long, for sharing yourself with such love, and for helping to change the lives of so many... including me. Your courage will continue to inspire and encourage people for many many years to come. You have made a difference on this planet, my friend! I love you with all my heart and soul, forever and always!
A Poem by Molly
Take a Moment
Your life was put into your hands
and the first day you were so very thankful
every breath you took was in gratitude
every sight you took in was beautiful
every smell was new and sweet
the colors were bright
and your mind was clear
your body never felt so right.
That first day was the day you felt thankful
and as time went by you began to forget just how much
so, not by any fault of your own, you started
to let the world effect you
you let the hours slip pass
the moments go by
you let the colors that were once so bright
fade into something a bit more dull and worn.
You didn’t look up to the sky
and feel awe in the pit of your stomach
you didn’t smell the smell of rain
and remember your loved ones with a smile
you just allowed your senses begin to fail you,
let your brain take over
let it tell you there are
more important things to be doing.
It’s okay you forget these things,
everyone does,
but just remember every once in a while
to let a deep breath into your lungs.
Remember to really look at the colors
and textures around you
to really take the time to love those
who you see so often
and never for a moment realize
one day they will be gone.
Just remember to be thankful for what you have,
every ability,
every strength,
even every weakness.
You are perfect and to remember that all you have to do
is take a moment to see that life is worth
so much more than anyone gives it credit for.
Take a Moment
Your life was put into your hands
and the first day you were so very thankful
every breath you took was in gratitude
every sight you took in was beautiful
every smell was new and sweet
the colors were bright
and your mind was clear
your body never felt so right.
That first day was the day you felt thankful
and as time went by you began to forget just how much
so, not by any fault of your own, you started
to let the world effect you
you let the hours slip pass
the moments go by
you let the colors that were once so bright
fade into something a bit more dull and worn.
You didn’t look up to the sky
and feel awe in the pit of your stomach
you didn’t smell the smell of rain
and remember your loved ones with a smile
you just allowed your senses begin to fail you,
let your brain take over
let it tell you there are
more important things to be doing.
It’s okay you forget these things,
everyone does,
but just remember every once in a while
to let a deep breath into your lungs.
Remember to really look at the colors
and textures around you
to really take the time to love those
who you see so often
and never for a moment realize
one day they will be gone.
Just remember to be thankful for what you have,
every ability,
every strength,
even every weakness.
You are perfect and to remember that all you have to do
is take a moment to see that life is worth
so much more than anyone gives it credit for.
–
Molly Pearce – 2006 (age 18)
