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Joyce, I'm
so sorry to hear your news. It's very difficult to say good-bye to a loved one.
It's very hard for me to write my thoughts. I feel that everything that
Bill has done, everything he has said, and all his love will stay in the
memories of those he has touched. You
and Bill are in my thoughts and prayers. Tamara ________________________________________________________________________ Oh,
Joyce, I am so deeply saddened. Bill was an incredible person, and I thank God
my path crossed with his. You are in my thoughts and prayers. He truly changed
my life. Sincerely, Sallie Goetgeluck, mom to Gabby, 4 1/2, lbw, and ________________________________________________________________________ I
rarely post, however I felt the need to say a bit about Bill.
I-Can is the legacy of Bill. From
all those who belong, he touched all of our lives as each has their own story
and heart felt thanks for his influence, kindness, and service. Heaven surely
welcomed so a great one as he. Penny Utley ________________________________________________________________________ Oh
Joyce, I
am sooo sorry. Please know that you
have so much love and support coming at you from all over the world right now.
Bill was a special man and will truly be missed (even by those of us who
never "officially" met him). Our
thoughts and prayers are with you. Shelley
Ressler ________________________________________________________________________ Bill
made me a better person and mother. He
will never be gone from my heart. Thank
you, Joyce, for sharing him with all of us.
We were all blessed to have had him in our lives :-) With
love and hugs, Mary-Anne
and the Beal family ___________________________________________________________ Joyce,
I am so saddened by your latest news. I can't believe it happened so quickly. I
am so grateful to have found this list when Jonathan (RBE) was 5 months old. We
were in such desperate need of support at that time and this list provided the
support and then some that we needed. We are forever grateful to you and Bill
for starting this wonderful group and being so supportive and encouraging to
families during difficult times. My
prayers are with you and your family during this difficult time. Amy mom
to Jonathan, RBE, 4 1/2 yrs old and ________________________________________________________________________ Joyce, As
I sit here in the hospital with Lisha I am just devastated and I know in
comparison to you, it is nothing. My heart is overwhelmed in sadness. The
last time I talked to Bill (last week) on the phone and he told me what was
going on, he then quickly said "the boys up there better get
ready"....There are lots of people that would agree there was no
"being ready" for Bill at times!! I hope "the boys" were
prepared Bill! I
made sure the last thing I told him was that we loved him and we agreed to talk
in the next week or so. Thank god I told him I loved him. Joyce...If
in anyway I can help be it I-CAN or otherwise I am here. You are on my mind, in
my thoughts, and foremost in my prayers. There are so many of us, who are here
for you, please don’t hesitate to fall back on us! Bill
will forever be etched in my heart and sadly missed. Patty
and Lisha Van Fosson _______________________________________________________________________ Joyce, Please
accept my whole-hearted sympathy. I wish I could do anything to help you.
Meeting Bill, at least by e-mail, has been a privilege. Alicia
in Spain
________________________________________________________________________ Oh
Joyce....though we have never met, I weep for the loss of you and the loss of
your husband. Know beyond a shadow
of a doubt, Bill Baugh made a difference in the world. Blessings Kimberly
Reeves Nicollet
(one beautiful "ill hand") Morella
(all bits and all energy) David
(two giant fingers) ________________________________________________________________________ Joyce,
Bill was a blessing to so many people.
He smiled with us, cried with us, held our hands whether it be in person
at a get-together or in a much-needed e-mail.
I saw his compassion in every word he wrote to every family in their time
of need. His passing is not met with
great sorrow from everyone yet great love for all he accomplished.
My heart and prayers go out to you and your family.
I know Bill is up in Heaven right now looking down at how many people
love him and knowing he is truly missed. Take
care of yourself!!
Tami
Bobby (11, ________________________________________________________________________ Dear
Joyce,
Our deepest sympathy to you and your family. Both you and Bill profoundly
touched our lives when we had the pleasure of talking to you both while at the
I-Can conference in Daryn Bailey ________________________________________________________________________ Dear
Joyce, Robin,.Lily
and Rick join me in sending you our love. We are so deeply sorry to hear that
Bill is gone. What an amazing man he was. What an amazing woman you are. During
the lonely days ahead, I hope you can somehow feel the love that all of us send
your way. ________________________________________________________________________ Joyce, I
usually find it awkward at times like this to say the right thing, but I really
think I need to say something. Bill was an inspiration for many people and a
blessing to us all. I know his
spirit and love lives on through each of us.
He was a genuinely kind soul who brought good to each of us by giving us
each other and all of himself. He
will be sorely missed, but he will shine on through each of us and our great
group. My prayers are with you and your family and all of us on this list. May
peace be with you and Bill as well. Katie,
Tom, Connor & Evan Sheehan ________________________________________________________________________ I
want to echo Mary-Anne Beal's statement that "Bill made me a better person
and mother." I cannot say it
better than that, as that is just perfectly true. My
thoughts and prayers are with you. Sincerely,
Holly Heitzman (mom to Amanda, age 4, LBE) ________________________________________________________________________ Joyce, My
deepest sympathy for your loss of your beloved. I know you were very close. At
least the two of you shared something so few ever get to experience, an
excellent marriage. You know we are so thankful for Bill's caring heart, and
desire to give to others. All of us are ever grateful for this list, and the
incredible support that comes with it. I look forward to meeting Bill in heaven
one day. God Bless you and may He help you find the time and space to grieve,
and bring complete healing to your soul in due time. I pray you remember to
climb into your Savior's lap and lay your head on His breast, just listening to
His heart beat. ---Lee mom to 10, (6
at home), one being Miss Cammi, 6 1/2yrs, bi-AK, missing middle fingers ________________________________________________________________________ Bill
did such good for so many. It reminds me of a quote I once heard. "What
we have done for ourselves alone dies with us; what we have done for others and
the world remains and is immortal." -Albert Pike Our
hearts are with you as your grieve. We are just so so sorry. Kathy
& Scott and Dane RAE ________________________________________________________________________ Joyce Our
sympathy and prayers go out to you on the passing of Bill.
I can only echo all the messages of the others.
Bill provided a great deal of guidance to us all at a time when we needed
it. He brought many people together
through this list who have now become great friends.
The entire I-Can family will miss him. Bill
T & family ________________________________________________________________________ Joyce, I'm
so sorry to hear about Bill. While
it hasn't completely
sunk in yet with me that he's gone, I am relieved
in knowing that he didn't have to suffer though
a long period of time. It's
incredible to think
of how many people Bill has had such a positive influence
on, and his legacy of helping others will carry
on through I-CAN, as well as all the others he's had
such an impact on over the years. I'll
be praying for
you and your family as you cope through this difficult
time. Brian ________________________________________________________________________ I
can hardly believe Bill is really gone...my only remotely comforting = thought
is that our dear Jan, who passed away only 50 weeks ago, was there in heaven to
great him with the open arms she did not have here on = earth.
Surely two saints are cavorting in heaven, watching out for all = of us,
urging us to continue the work that was so important to them both. We will keep
up their magnificent work. Joyce,
my love and prayers are with you. I
will write you privately. Love, Gail,
RBK ___________________________________________________________ Joyce!
I am so sorry for your loss. I
never had the opportunity to meet Bill but he has made such a difference in my
life. The group that he started
saved me when I found out about Hailey's missing limb.
He has touched so many lives and was a very special person. Our
thoughts, prayers and thanks go out to you and your
family! Carolann,
Andy and Hailey Eleanor! ___________________________________________________________ Joyce,
I am so very sorry about Bill. As I look at my son Isaac, home from Joyce, Please
accept our deep sympathy. If it was not for Bill and I-Can we would never have
found our little Stella Ninh from ___________________________________________________________ Joyce, I
am just so sad. I never really got
to know Bill because I have only just joined this group.
I am grateful to him for starting and nurturing this group.
The memories people hold of him keep him alive in our hearts. Joyce,
I am lifting you and your son up in prayer. Kyle ___________________________________________________________ Joyce, I am so sorry. Bill gave to us all, and made our lives better. I never met him, but his generosity, caring, humor and good sense helped me every time I got on the list. Thank you for sharing Bill with us all these years. Suzanne
Helms ___________________________________________________________ Joyce, I
cannot even begin to say it as well as others already have, but I am so
incredibly proud to have known a man like Bill, albeit only through the
internet. You and he have touched
our lives in ways you would never expect. 2.5
years ago my daughter was born LBE and I was so devastated, lost and confused.
I didn't know where to turn or what to do.
Until I came upon this website that you two have put together.
And even though I rarely get time to post, I do try to read the messages
as often as possible. And from that
I have learned so much. I have
learned not to worry about my daughter anymore - she will be (and IS!)
just fine. I have learned how to
handle those often awkward situations. And
I have learned just how many wonderful people there are in this world - and
especially on this board. I feel
truly blessed to be a part of this and am so thankful that through your
selflessness and caring, you and Bill were able to make such a difference in our
lives. I only wish that I had a
building or road or something that I could name in Bill's honor - because truly
wonderful people like him are so incredibly rare!
Thank you for posting and letting us know the sad news and please know
that our prayers are with you and your family. Diane,
Juliana 2.5, (LBE) and Slade, almost 5 (All bits) ___________________________________________________________ Dear
Joyce,
So sorry to read your post regarding the passing of your husband Bill..I
have never met either one of u..but thank u both for this wonderful group
I found 7 years ago... Many
thoughts and prayers for u and your son at this time...God Bless... Love,
Sue Novello mom to Gianna
LBW ___________________________________________________________ Joyce, My
deepest sympathy are with you during this time of great sadness.
I will never be able to find the words to describe how much you both
changed and inspired me and gave me the strength to be a truly good mother to
Kayla. Bill will live in my heart
forever. You
are in my thoughts and prayers. Love, Cindy
and Kayla ___________________________________________________________ Hi
Joyce. I have sat on this since
yesterday morning. I have been
caring for my mother who just had surgery this past week and couldn't even sit
down to send a note to you because I just didn't (and still don't) have the
words to say to you and your family. I
never met either of you personally but you both have meant so much to me.
I have always told Branden about his Uncle Bill that he'd be meeting one
day. I have not yet told him of
Bill's passing, but he knew he was sick. I
showed him pictures from all the many I-CAN get togethers.
He'll always have a special place in my heart.
This list changed my life for the better and it was definitely because of
Bill. I'm
so sorry for your loss. This is a
huge loss for all of us here, but I can't imagine what you're going through.
He was your life. Please let
me know if there's anything I can do. If
you come to TX I'll have to bring my little sweetie out to see you from NM. Cindy
and Branden (6 with LAE, bilateral PFFD) ___________________________________________________________ Joyce-
We here at our home were deeply saddened to hear about Bill's passing.
Words, again, are hard to express our sorrow.
We did not meet Bill, but I will never forget the day I opened an email
from him that changed our lives. Ryan,
Kim and Lindsey Finley (LBW)--- ___________________________________________________________
Joyce, I
know you must be overwhelmed right now...I will offer some simple thoughts and
above all, a Thank You. I
got involved with this list when I was in college and still searching for my
"defining moment" in my life in terms of my self-identity and my
career...some gentle pushing from Bill helped with that rough time. I am
grateful for that push even though I emotionally did not want to accept it...but
for the push I thank you and Bill. I
know also what you meant to him. I know personally that my soul has become
incredibly enriched compared to where I was before I met my wife Suzette. I
wish you Peace in your grieving and the love that encompasses all at times like
this. Sincerely, Peter
J. Boulay ___________________________________________________________ Dear
Joyce, My
thoughts and prayers are with you during this very difficult time.
I know that Bill will be missed in a lot of ways, and his memory will
live on in the hearts of those who cared so very much about him.
God bless you! Love, Linda
Wooster ___________________________________________________________ Though
I've never met Bill and you Joyce, I am so sorry for what happened. Accept my
deepest sympathy... I want you to know that Bill's list brought so much hope and
light into my heart during the darkest hours of my life.
Bill will for ever be alive through all of us. Love, Daiva
from ___________________________________________________________ I
too want to add my sincere condolences on the loss of your wonderful husband.
We recently lost my father-in-law to lung cancer and I am very glad that
Bill avoided the suffering. It is
hard to imagine that smile and warm heart gone forever.
He touched so many in a very special way.
I know he will be richly rewarded. I
also believe that he is in a better place now.
I remember Billy Graham speaking a few days after 9/11.
He said those that died would not choose to come back here to earth even
if they could. Where they were now, with God in heaven is so beautiful.
I fine consolation and comfort in that thought and I hope that somehow it
will help you to go on too. Our
love, our prayers, and our thank-you.
Linn, Jim, Jonathan and Brennan Heider ___________________________________________________________ Greetings, I
am also saddened by the loss of Bill. He
was always helpful and encouraging to me in finding families for our waiting
limb-difference kids. Aviva
Cohen, J.D. Executive
Director (and mom to a fabulous rbe Russian princess!) Tree of ___________________________________________________________ Joyce, I
also wanted to send my deepest sympathy. You and Bill have been very much in our
family's hearts. Bill's legacy will live on in the hearts and lives of so many
children and families whose lives he
touched in a profound way. Nancy Kaplan Ira BAE Lan Fen LBE Yu Xin and Jaron all
bits ___________________________________________________________ We
were so looking forward to meeting Bill in
Chicago this summer :(. We can't
express how much we appreciate what he has done for us (personally and through
this forum that he created) in the past few months. Our
sympathies and prayers are with you. Byron ___________________________________________________________ Dear
Joyce, I
wasn't going to write because I know so many others have expressed the same
things I've felt, I was just going to keep you in my prayers. I however ran
across a poem that had helped my grandmother when her sister passed on so I
thought I'd share it with you. Grieving
Time, A Time for Love By
Barbara Bergen If
a loved one has departed, And
left an empty space, Seek
the inner stillness, Set
a slower pace. Take
time to remember, Allow
yourself to cry, Acknowledge
your emotions, Let
sadness pass on by. Then
center in the oneness, Remember
. . . God is here, Death
is but a change in form, Your
loved one is still near. Treat
yourself with kindness, Allow
yourself to feel, God
will do the mending, And
time will help you heal. Kathleen
Foster, mom to Erin (LBK) & Kathryn, DH Bryan "When
people believe in you and encourage you, they are the matches that light the
candle of achievement." Dr.Ronan
Tynan (double leg amputee, Doctor, tenor) ___________________________________________________________ Dear
Joyce, Just
a few weeks ago, I was at a PALS meeting in Dallas, Texas at Scottish Rite Hospital. The meeting organizer made a
passing thanks to Bill for his help in getting PALS started (however many years
ago). It’s amazing = to think how
many lives he has touched in such a profound way.
What a saving grace the ICAN listserv was for me when I found out about
my ICAN child (and I know it was this way for so many parents).
Saying "Thank You" to Bill and to you is so inadequate in light
of what you both have meant= to me
and my family. We feel unbelievably
blessed to have found you and ICAN. Joyce,
I wish you all the strength and courage of spirit that I see daily in my ICAN
daughter, Avery (who, at not quite two years old, will gladly stare down any kid
on the playground who stares at her). Genna Stephens (Texas, mother to Avery (LBE) ___________________________________________________________ Joyce,
I don't know of anything I can say that hasn't already been said. Bill
has meant so much to the parents of our I-CAN kids. He provided the means for
the parents & kids to come together as a family with strong bonds.
My heart goes out to you as I went through a similar situation with my
mother a few years ago. I was at total loss knowing my days with her were
numbered & there was nothing I or the doctors could do.
I know you are overwhelmed with offers of help, but if there is anything
Pat or I can do to help please let us know. Gene
& Pat |
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International Child Amputee Network
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