Heavy Hearts

Well this week has been a really tough one for our family, particularly my Mom. After being sick for quite sometime my Aunt Annetta was finally diagnosed with "Anterior Horn Cell Disease" it is similar to ALS (or more commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease). By the time she was diagnosed it was so far advanced that there was not much that could be done. This disease is incurable and gets progressively worse over time, had they correctly diagnosed her three years ago they may have been able to slow it down giving her more time. Well early this week she collapsed and never regained con'sciousness, she remained on a ventilator until yesterday afternoon when they made the difficult decision to remove her from life support. She passed just moments later and our family is so saddened by this event. She was my Mom's oldest sister and I know that she misses her deeply. Annetta lived a life of service, she worked in the SLC Temple for years and she and my uncle served two missions. She was an amazing women whom we all loved, her laugh could fill the room and she was fun to be around. Her family was the most important thing in her life, she loved spending time with her Grand kids and Great Grand kids. Annetta left behind her sweet husband, 4 children, 18 Grandchildren, 7 Great Grand Children and many nieces and nephews, as well as her 2 younger brothers and 2 younger sisters. There were so many lives touched by hers.

I was was blessed to have seen her just a few months ago, she was able to meet my little James and we enjoyed being in her company. That visit will always stand out in my mind because she and I sat together and looked through old photos, she was able to recall the names and faces of everyone in them. It was truly a gift to have those precious moments with her, she was so sweet to my girls and always had a little treat for them when we came to visit. Our trips to Utah will not feel the same without her there, there is a missing piece to our family. Aunt Annetta was always such a staple to any family get together. I love you Aunt Annetta and miss you so much!

From left to right: My Aunt Marylin, Aunt Annetta, My Grandpa, My Mom, My Aunt Jone,
My Grandma & Cousin (in front)

Aunt Annetta, Aunt Marylin, Uncle Steve, Grandma, Uncle Mike & Mom

Left to Right: My Mom, Aunt Marylin, Aunt Annetta Womens ( Conf. '06)

Aunt Annetta's daughters (my cousins)

My Aunt Annetta ( May 2008)

Mom & Aunt Annetta

Just some of the people that love and miss her

My last visit with my Aunt (May '08)