In my waiting room hangs a painting of a goddess, purples with many pastels. It is beautiful. It was painted by Carrie. She said it was me, I said it was her... I had met Carrie when she was just 33 years old, 8 years ago on July 7, 2003. She had just been diagnosed with breast cancer. I had already taken care of her mother and aunt for very early breast cancers years prior.

Carrie had stage 3 disease, a large 4 inch wide tumor and her lymph nodes were involved. So began the journey of a very brave and incredible individual.

Carrie did everything that was asked of her. And I mean...

Dear Isabella and Elizabeth,

You do not know us but we felt strongly that we had to write to both of you to let you know just how very sorry we were to hear about your mom. We knew your mom and worked with her a long time ago. We just wanted to let you know a few things about her. 

Your mom's first teaching job was at Salk Middle School in Levittown, NY.  She was an energetic, kind, and creative art teacher. She was well liked by all of her students and by those who worked with her. She stayed late and always found time to work with her students who needed extra help. She often sta...

Dear Family,

My husband Arnold was fortunate to attend the senior program at the Mid-Island Y in Plainview. His favorite time was when he worked with Carrie. When I walked into the room to pick Arnold up I was always greeted by Carrie with a smile and warmth.

Please carry with you this love and warmth for all the days of your life. With deepest sorrow.

Respectfully,

Harriet (& Arnold) Sayetta

Dear Sophie and Mel,

I do not wish to intrude upon your privacy nor your grief, but I do want to extend to you my deepest sympathy in the passing of your daughter Carrie. I will not try to tell you that I can understand or feel what it is that you feel. Your loss as a parent is a solitary one; shared by you both, but individual to each.

I had only come to know Carrie for a few short months, and while the circumstances should have been anything other than what they were, I felt that I had the opportunity to meet someone who had an amazing impact on the lives she touched.  Carrie made...

Today we unveil a permanent rememberance to our Carrie. 

As her family, in our own feeble way, we tried to create a work of art. In the final analysis, there is no more beautiful way than seeing Carrie's self-portrait which depicts all the most important aspects of her life.

Carrie we miss your beautiful smile, your wit, your intelligience, your compassion, strength and creativity more and more with each passing day.  And, as one of your students said when dedicating her art exhibition to you,  "We miss everything Carrie"

Although your time on this Earth was very short, you b...

In some ways, I've been writing this speech, in my head, since my sister had been diagnosed out of pure fear of coming to this moment.  When I sat down to write it though, how do you really capture in a few words, who someone is and what they mean, when it is just SO big ?  Whatever I say cannot be enough because there are not enough words.

I will try to say, though, a few words about my beautiful sister, Carrie.  And, my sister is beautiful-her face, of course, and in her heart.  She kept me laughing.  She was witty and silly. She had so many interests; such a gift for paint...

I stand here today to tell you how lucky I am.  Lucky to have had the kind of friend you only get to find once in a lifetime.  Not everyone gets a chance to have a friendship like mine and Carrie’s was.  I don’t ever remember a time when she was not in my life.  We became friends when we were very little.  In those early days, we had great play dates filled with hours in the special clubhouse Carrie created in the woods behind her house, family trips to Hershey Park, Thursday night dinners at one of our houses, late night talks during sleep overs.  Playing endless games of Brady Bu...