Wednesday, December 29, 2010

YNN TV NEWSCAST ABOUT MEGHAN REDENBACH


Yesterday the funeral was held for Meghan Redenbach and YNN offered this touching coverage of it...

http://buffalo.ynn.com/content/all_news/528203/redenbach-remembered-as-fighter-with-loving-heart/

If your computer is too slow to load the video, here is the transcript of the story...


A Mass of Christian Burial was held for teenager Meghan Redenbach at St. Mary's Church in Swormville Tuesday morning. Redenbach was the Royalton-Hartland volleyball player who died on Christmas Eve after battling a rare form of cancer. Hundreds filled the church to support the Redenbach family and to say goodbye to a friend who never stopped fighting for another day.

As her parents Mike and Nancy, and brother Nick draped Redenbach's casket with a baptismal garment, close friends recalled the fighter with an angel's glow in her heart. "Meghan taught us so much about determination and courage and empathy," said family friend Joe Floss.

Diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer two years ago, Meghan focused each day on making it to tomorrow. Her competitive spirit kept her on the volleyball court and in the classroom. If friends cried for her, she gave them 10 seconds to stop. "She didn't want people to cry for her," said Floss. "She was determined to survive, she had the courage to survive."

Among those who eulogized Meghan was her 6th grade teacher Bethany Macalm, who so admired her former student, she shaved her own hair to support Meghan's cancer fight and took a leave from her teaching duties to be with Meghan and the family in her final weeks. "It's up to each and every one of us to continue this fight by ensuring that Meghan's legacy makes it to each and every tomorrow," said Macalm. "We love you Meghan."

Neighbors gathered and sang "Silent Night" outside the Redenbach home after Meghan died. The family remains overwhelmed by the love and support they've received, from the doctors at Roswell Park to Carly's Club, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, which granted Meghan and her family a trip to Hawaii, and Mike's co-workers at the State Department of Corrections in Albion, who donated their own vacation time so he could stay at the hospital.

Meghan left Roswell Park one last time earlier this month, to cheer on her Roy-Hart volleyball teammates. "She mustered up the energy," said Floss. "It was the very next day that she was unconscious and couldn't communicate any longer. That was her last hurrah, she wanted to be there for her team."

That fighting spirit has become her legacy. Meghan was only 15 when she died on Christmas Eve. Now, said Rich Jennings who also eulogized her, Meghan has earned the eternal victory with a place in heaven.