<bgsound src="YASB.mp3" loop=infinite>

 

ROSE CRIVELLI

06-December-196903-November-1973

 

I Would Rather Have
One Breath Of Her Air,
One Touch Of Her Skin,
For A Moment,
Then To Live Through Eternity Without Her.
My Dreams,
My Thoughts,
My Actions,
Can Never Take Me To Her Again,
So I Wait...

 

You could see how hard Doctors were working to find a cure for these little children. Their dedicated loyalty to children and humanity could never be described with words on this page. Their research was not just confined with one hospital they were constantly seeking alternatives, corresponding with other hospitals, surgeons and research personnel. I learned the meaning of HOPE and how to move forward during setbacks by having the honor and privilege of knowing these fine surgeons personally.

In her struggle to understand why this could happen, Rose became a model for other children to follow. During the last ten months of her life, her tiny body transformed from that of a healthy normal child that you see in the picture above, to a frail fragile body, having lost the use of her body.

This page is to salute Rose for her unwillingness to give-up helping other children who seek hope while being confined to a hospital and losing the freedom of playing in the local playground with other children, she volunteered to care for other cancer stricken children. She became a companion to other children who had no family to visit them or play with them for their last remaining days on this planet. She disregarded her own pain both physical and emotional to mentor to other children.

The staff of Queens General Hospital noticed how these children would cling to Rose, demanding her full and constant attention while they wept through their pain and sickness.

The last two weeks of Rose's life was more pain than she could bare. Physicians were unable to feed IV's through her veins in her little arms or legs because her body was destroyed. She would still insist on helping the Doctors and Staff with painful test.

 She explained "I'm going help other little baby children not to get sick like me."

 

Although Rose lost all her hair and had no strength to walk any longer, or even sit, she still managed to show her hope for others when she lost her beautiful long thick brown hair from chemotherapy and radium treatments by showing other children that she wasn't afraid, and that there is hope for all. She helped them to exist with their daily pain and understand how much they are loved by all us. Her faith as a child was unsurpassed. She gave more to others than life had given to her.

The last hours of Rose's life was in an alternate state of consciousness and unconsciousness. When she awoke her words and thoughts were of "who's going to take care of the sick babies when I leave?". She knew at the age of 3 that she was dying. So much morphine was shot into her frail little body to help ease the pain that she was going through. We watched her cry in her pain. Yet Rose never complained saying Why Me, or This Isn't Fair. She just laid in her bed losing consciousness enduring the pain.

During the last moments of her life that precious little child for the last time looked at her mother and said "I'm not afraid to die mommy, but, I'm going to miss my babies" pointing to her little friends in the cubicles next to her bed who were also victims of this terrible disease that strikes children. She then kissed her mother and told her she loved her and closed her eyes for the last time. We stared at her. She was breathless. Her battered little body gave up. She was in peace now, we could see this. I noticed that Rose's friends, the Surgeons and Nurse's hurrying to her bed to be there for her, during her last moments of life, break down and cry.

 

We were all so attached emotionally to this brave and precious little child.

Most important, I should mention Rose's mother. She is quite an amazing woman. For everyday, seven days per week, she would arrive at the hospital every morning at 6am to be there for Rose, so that when she woke up, Rose would see her mother next to her bedside. She would leave after midnight, so that Rose would fall asleep feeling safe in her mother's arms. Rose's mother had this uncanny strength to be there for her daughter. Rose's mother was strong, while hiding her own pain inside, always with a smile and always showing her unique and strength of her love.

I have always admired, and will always love Rose's mother, I miss her so much... Through Linda's strength, endurance, and stamina, I believe that Rose was able to endure all her pain and suffering because of her mother's strength and dedicated love. This woman, I will always remember and honor with utmost admiration and respect, she is truly a wonderful and kind person. It's an honor to have been loved by her.

I watched such dedicated and sensitive Surgeons cry upon her death. I seen how hard they worked to help our daughter survive. I admire and honor them all. Honorable mention with sincere respect goes out to all those Doctor's, Nurse's, and hospitals administrators who every day fight the battle of cancer to Save Our Children from this terrible disease

When I Close My Eyes To Sleep,
I Say, Goodnight Rose.
When I Awake,
I Look For Her.
Everyday.
Through The Years
The Loneliness Grows.
I'm Tired…
Wanting To Go To Her.
I Stare At Her Photo,
Visualize Her, In My Mind,
Holding Her,
Feel Her Touch,
Gaze Into Her Eyes,
I Surrender My Spirit.

Her Little Arms Grasp Around My Neck,
Feeling Her Tender Cheek Touch My Face,
My Imagination Takes Over,
And For A Moment;
We Unite,
No Sound,
I Sense Her Spirit Pass Through My Soul,
Nirvana, And So I Wait

 

 

"Is It True That There Is No Greater Suffering Then To Remember The Pains Of Our Past”

“The Difference Between Despair And Joy Is Simple, It’s Just A Change In Attitude”

Axel Munthe