Megan
  About 1 1/2 years old
  Summer 2002

Dear Kayley,

As you grow older, I know you will have more and more trouble remembering your little sister.  I have started this memory book for you so that your Megan, who was so much a part of your life when she was alive, will always be remembered.

I wrote the following excerpt in sissy's memory book, and want you to have it now too.  With Megan's life so fresh in my mind, I wanted everyone to know how much I have learned from the two of you, and how much I love you both.

Please do not be sad because sissy is so far away in heaven.  Be happy because she doesn't hurt anymore.  Don't think that she's not with us, because she's with us every moment of every day, looking down on us from heaven where she plays.

And always remember that she loved you more than anyone.

Love, Mommy

Megan with her favorite piggy - June 2003

Age 2

My memories of Megan are of a child whose smile lit up her whole face, whose laugh made you smile no matter what your mood, and whose presence lightened your day.  Throughout Megan's struggles with GM1 Gangliosidosis, she continued to be the happy, passive child that she always was.  She accepted everything without argument. 

Since December 2002, when Megan's illness truly started to get the best of her, Megan continued to hold true to her love of life and of her family.  No one ever lit up Megan's life like her sister Kayley; Kayley was the love of her life.  Looking back through all of my photos to prepare a collage of Megan's life, I found so many pictures of Megan and Kayley together:  Kayley holding Megan when she was just born, Kayley kissing Megan, Megs laughing with Kayley, Kayley helping her little sissy play...There are so many photos of these two amazing kids sharing their love for each other.

Throughout Megan's illness, Kayley saw her for who she really was inside, not for who she was because of her illness.  Kayley's love for Megan never changed, never wavered, and only strengthened as they grew.  Kayley helped Megan whenever she could, bringing her toys, turning on her music, giving her medicine (with Mommy's help of course!), giving her kisses and hugs, drawing pictures for her, and whatever else she thought would help Megan know she loved her.  My hope is that everyone in her life got to see the strength these girls drew from each other.

I have learned so much from the relationship between Kayley and Megan.  Love truly endures all boundaries, is unconditional, and can strengthen our lives.  I will always think of Megan often and how she impacted the lives of so many through her unconditional love for life and her family.  Megan will live on in the hearts of everyone she touched.  She was an amazing child, and she and Kayley have truly taught me the meaning of love.

                                                                                                        --Liz Mullaney

                             (written July 1, 2003 just prior to Megan's burial)

Kayley (4) & Megan (2)

June 2003