Our Story
The day my daughter was born, I sat and wondered who she would become. What amazing things would this tiny bundle go on to do in the world? Would she grow into a kind friend, a devoted partner, perhaps one day a mother herself?
But I’ll never know.
At just three and a half years old, my daughter, Angelina, was diagnosed with Stage IV Neuroblastoma. In that moment, my life changed forever. It was no longer about imagining the future she might have, but about fighting for whether she would even get to live it.
For the next seven and a half years, I devoted myself to making sure that whatever time she had, she truly lived. If something made its way onto her “bucket list,” I did everything in my power to make it happen.
In the final month of her life, Angelina experienced more than many do in a lifetime. She went to Hawaii, swam with sharks (in an aquarium), and floated beside sea turtles. She zip-lined down an inactive volcano—a compromise, since what she really wanted was to bungee jump into the volcano. She visited Disneyland to explore Galaxy’s Edge, the Star Wars land she had dreamed of, and then traveled to Universal in Florida to ride “Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure.”
The last real conversation we had was her looking at me with a smile and saying, “We had some great trips this month. I had a great life.” A few hours later, she was gone.
I had just lived through every parent’s worst nightmare: outliving my child.
In the silence that followed, I couldn’t stop thinking of all the milestones I would miss. She would never go to prom, never graduate, never walk down the aisle, never place my grandchildren in my arms. But the deepest pain came from another fear—that over time, she might simply fade away. That one day, it would be as if she had never been here at all.
And I couldn’t let that happen.
Angelina’s life was more than a statistic. I wanted her name, her joy, her spirit shouted from the mountaintops: ANGELINA WAS HERE. That became my mission—to create a legacy for her, one that ensured the world would never forget.
As I shared my story with friends and family, I realized something powerful: we all carry the legacies of those we love. A funny family story that still makes us laugh. Words of encouragement from a mother that echo in hard moments. A corny joke from a dad that never gets old. The unbreakable bond of a sibling. Or the friend without whom we can’t imagine how we would have made it through.
I began to think about all of them—their lives, their legacies—and how Angelina could inspire me to ensure those stories are never lost. That each memory, each lesson, each impact leaves its mark.
That’s why I created They Were Here – Lessons from Their Lives. This podcast is a space to honor those we’ve loved and lost, to preserve their wisdom and spirit, and to share the impact they had on our lives so that their presence continues to guide us.
Because they were here. And they still are.
Video
What Angelina's Death Taught Me About Living
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I would love to hear from you. Whether you want to share a story about someone you’ve loved and lost, suggest a guest for the podcast, or simply reach out, your voice matters here.
They Were Here – Lessons from Their Lives is built on connection, memory, and legacy—and that starts with you.
Click the button and fill out the form below, and let’s keep their stories alive together.
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