Today marks one year since Lulu’s diagnosis. I found it too difficult to put the year into words, so I’m wrapping it up in pictures, and Lulu’s art.
Thank you to the staff at Children’s Hospital, who saved our daughter’s life on multiple occasions over the past year, and continue to treat her, and us with love, respect and compassion. Thank you to our community, whom we believe wholeheartedly gave us the strength to get through this year. Thank you to those who employed us, and for the new opportunities that await us. Thank you to all those we have left unthanked, but made a difference in our lives. Thank you to my amazing husband and incredible son who are the strongest men I’ve ever known. Thank you to Lulu, who’s had to deal with life beyond imagination, and has used her own, to cope with a world that defies explanation. I love you. I love you. I love you.
One more year, five months and counting. Here’s to a.l.l. of us!
One 
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a.l.l. of us 
Michelle
/ November 7, 2012How strong your family has stood this past year is inspiring for all. May Lucia’s health continue to improve every day. It’s the small and simple things in life that are remembered and most important…may your family be enriched with peace and the love of each other.
Always thinking of you, M & M family
T. Marie
/ November 7, 2012Thanks Michelle, I know you have been going through quite a journey of your own. You are an amazing mother and strong woman. Friends like you help the rest of us get through the worst of it! Love you always, T
Jennifer Fischer
/ November 7, 2012What a journey! No words needed. The joy, the pain and the love the images show speak volumes. XO
T. Marie
/ November 7, 2012Thanks Coco. Love you!
Darrell Boeck
/ November 7, 2012Please hug her for me and make sure she knows how important she is to this planet. She may be little, but she is a very big deal.
Tears,
Darrell
T. Marie
/ November 7, 2012Darrell, you are so right! She’s a force to be reckoned with. Love what you wrote so much, thank you!
T
carriechimenti
/ November 7, 2012Beautiful post T – you are a wonderful mentor for a Mamma. Thinking of you all and the year you have been through. Knew the one year was upon us and cannot wait for Lucia to have a BETTER BIRTHDAY than last year. Bigs hugs to each one of you. Think of you guys every day and hope to see you all soon. Go Lucia Mia, go! Olives, C
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012Thanks C, I know it’s nearer and dearer to you with a little one of your own on the way. This will be a better birthday, and Holiday season, I’m sure!
Love you
Jackie Worth
/ November 7, 2012My love goes out to you all and I hope this next year brings more rainbows filled with happiness. She is SO inspiring, those pictures touched my heart. xoxo j.
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012Thank you Jackie! Rainbows sounds really wonderful!
Mark Pioli
/ November 7, 2012Samarcos:
You are such a wonderful family. It was joyful to look through these pictures.
Love to you all,
Mark
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012Thank you so much Mark, your family was SO supportive during the worst of it. We can’t thank you enough.
alison fletcher
/ November 7, 2012I LOVE YOU LULU!! GREAT JOB!!
Alison Fletcher-Bo & Annika’s friend from Sister Bay!!
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012Thank you Alison!!! We love Bo and Annika SO MUCH!!!
Stephanie Raffelock
/ November 7, 2012The pictures say it all so beautifully. You have an amazing family and it is an honor to bear witness to this path that you travel. Thank you for finding the energy and the time to post and inspire us. So much love and goodwill to all of you!
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012Thank you my lovely cyber pal! I hope we can meet someday, I’ve fallen completely in love with your writing!
Tom
/ November 7, 2012So precious my little earth angel……you come visit us soon:9)
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012Thank you Tom, Jimmy’s told me how supportive you’ve been. We appreciate it!
JoAnna
/ November 7, 2012This is amazing–I cried what a beautiful little girl and sending you guys lots of love and continued strength :-).
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012Thank Jojo! I can’t wait to meet your little bundle!
Danika Brysha
/ November 7, 2012T, Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful photos. It was probably just a little over a year ago when I first met you at Bon Ton and had the pleasure of working with you, and now I am back here today in Milwaukee and thinking of all that you and your family has been through since you showed me photos of your beautiful family last October. You are all so strong and Lulu is a beam of light and strength. I will continue to send positive thoughts and prayers your way and I look forward to watching as Lulu gets stronger and stronger. Thanks for sharing a peace of your world with all of us.
xoxo Danika
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012You’re so sweet Danika, you left a wonderful lasting impression on me, and I’ve been following your blog too. I love what you’re doing!
danikabarrett
/ November 7, 2012T, Thank you so much for sharing these beautiful photos. It was probably just a little over a year ago when I first met you at Bon Ton and had the pleasure of working with you, and now I am back here today in Milwaukee and thinking of all that you and your family has been through since you showed me photos of your beautiful family last October. You are all so strong and Lulu is a beam of light and strength. I will continue to send positive thoughts and prayers your way and I look forward to watching as Lulu gets stronger and stronger. Thanks for sharing a peace of your world with all of us.
xoxo Danika
jan grimes
/ November 7, 2012All I can say is WOW!
________________________________
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012WOW indeed! Love you Jan
Kari
/ November 7, 2012You are all amazing. Your daughter is beautiful and you all will come through this with the love your family shares. Hugs to all of you 🙂
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012We so appreciate you following the blog Kari, thank you!
Laura Heintzelman
/ November 7, 2012Wow. What a year. What a family. Here’s to
More rainbows ahead. Love u guys
Lola
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012And what a friend you are, and have been always 🙂
Love you so much,
T
Sue Proebsting
/ November 7, 2012How amazing Teresa! I feel blessed that you have shared such a personal and trying journey. The pictures are overwhelming and while they show so much pain at times, I largely feel joy, hope and healing through them. You have such a beautiful family and I hope one day to meet them. I was looking through your pics with my 13 year old daughter and she fell madly in love with Lulu! She asked me to email them to her. We had some minor health issues, in comparison, with both our kids this past year. Your updates were a beautiful reminder that we will get through things and the situation could be harder. Thank you for sharing.
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012I had no idea Sue, I hope all is ok? You know I’m just a phone call away if you need to talk/vent/scream, whatever!
Thank you for following, and for your lovely words.
Cindy Stutzel
/ November 7, 2012You forgot to mention how strong you have been. The beauty maker you are has transformed what may be at times a most horrible nightmare that anyone wouldn’t want to face, to a beautiful story of a little princess, of whom no one shall forget her beautiful face and her courageous journey. And what beautiful art! Looking forward to the happy ending.
Kristen
/ November 7, 2012Love this post. Lulu is beautiful.
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012Thanks Kristen, it feels so cathartic to have it in place, and to be able to refer to it when I need grounding myself. We feel very hopeful right now, I hope you are too!
Linda
/ November 7, 2012“And regardless of what else you put on, wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.” (The Message-Colossians 3) Your family’s love is so evident in all these pictures. Thanks for sharing the last year’s journey in these beautiful pictures and also in all your wonderful posts. You have a gift T.
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012Linda, I LOOOOVE this quote. How perfect, for everything life brings. I will hold it close to my heart, as we do you.
Crystal McNeal
/ November 7, 2012The Sammarcos are one of the most strong, loving, talented and awesome families I know. I have been praying for Lulu since this journey started and will continue. Thanks for sharing the pictures T, your daughter is my hero.
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012Crystal, you are such a support, thank you!
Janet Tallberg
/ November 7, 2012Incredibly awesome. Glad you got the Beiber pic in there 🙂 I have already signed up, along with many others, for Leukemia & Lymphoma fundraising bike rides for next summer, where our goal is millions to fund research and treatment of blood diseases. We hope they will help cure patients like Lulu.
Happy 6th birthday to Lulu, a lovely, loved lady.
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012You continue to amaze us Janet, your continued ACTIONS are really making a difference in people’s lives. HUGE THANKS!!!
Mia
/ November 8, 2012These pictures are incredible. The journey that your family went through the past year is beyond my imagination. I see smiles, love and an amazing family, You guys are an inspiration to so many. Thank you for sharing and continuing to do so. I love all of you!
Mia
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012Mia, love you so much and miss you. Hugs
Kim Utech
/ November 8, 2012Oh T. What a ride you all have had. The pictures are amazing, I especially love the ones with Mason and Lucia together. So sweet. I know I haven’t seen you in awhile, but know that you and your family are always on my mind, and I am sending you big hugs. xo, Kim
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012You are on our minds too, and glad your little scare turned into nothing. Thank you God! We will have to catch up very soon! love you
carol curley
/ November 8, 2012You all deserve the very best that life has to offer and it will come to you. Love, carol
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012So do you Carol. We love seeing you following your passion and talent. That is a gift that keeps on giving!
annika johnson
/ November 8, 2012UNBELIEVABLE!!!!!!!!!! I AM IN TEARS OF JOY!!!! I LOVE YOU GUYS! ANNIKA
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012Annika, so hard to go through all those pics, but nothing compared to what you are dealing with. Thank you for continuing to inspire all of us!!!!!!!!!
Michele Batz
/ November 8, 2012Thanks for sharing this…I remember seeing her around the unit, when Cory was there!
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012Hi Michelle, I remember Cory, how is he?
Julie Campbell
/ November 8, 2012I have never had the pleasure of meeting Lulu or her wonderful family, but this was one of the most beautiful things I’ve seen in a very long time! Lulu, you are a radiant little beam of sunshine and are obviously LOVED tremendously by soooo many people. I will be praying for you all! God bless you and keep you!
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012Hi Julie, thank you for taking the time to read this. My hope has been to share and touch people we’ve never met, so thank you for sharing your thoughts here!!!
Lori Johnson
/ November 8, 2012So BEAUTIFUL! Such an inspiration you are Lulu!
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012Thank you Lori! I’ll pass on your thoughts to lil LU!~
Caroline
/ November 8, 2012Thank you for sharing your beautiful story 🙂 The photos are priceless! I pray for you all love, health & happiness always! Xx
T. Marie
/ November 9, 2012Caroline, thank you so much. We pray for the same for you!
Sally, Tom, Scott, Susan Rondeau
/ November 9, 2012Every single picture exudes so, so much love…..what a journey, one that none of us ever believe we will make,but life doles out many twists and turns. My heart is full. We love you, with many years of memories. We pray that Lulu continues to do well with the remaining protocol and that her life is filled with family and so, so many activities. 4 Rondeau’s
T. Marie
/ November 19, 2012Thank you Rondeaus. We do have so many years of memories, they are so sacred to me. I continue to keep Carrie’s spirit with me, as I know you do. Who would have guessed our daughters would end up with the same disease? It’s unfathomable. As you put so rightly; life is full of twists and turns. Thank you for continuing to be present in ours. We love you all.