Kelly's card to Shelly

This message was sent to Kristin (Hughes), Collette (Cowley)and Robert Peterson via Facebook from Amy Wallwork Kinross (sister of Shelly Wallwork Catton). (I edited it a little from the original)

I just wanted to share with you how amazing your brother Kelly is and how much he meant to my sister, Shelly. This past July, Shelly was diagnosed with acute mylogenious leukemia (AML). Shelly's diagnosis came when she was admitted to the hospital with a severe and life-threatening case of diverticulitis, which we later learned was a result of her compromised immune system from the AML. Shelly was extremely ill and consequently spent 5 weeks in the hospital.

During her time in the hospital, Shelly was very ill and in a lot of pain. She underwent intensive chemotherapy (which I now believe her body never should have tolerated) along with battling an already life threatening infection.

I know that Shelly was in shock about her diagnosis as AML is an aggressive cancer with a high mortality rate. I remember visiting Shelly several times as she lay in her hospital bed. At one time she told me that she thought that if she were to die, that she would not really be missed by anyone other than her family. I assured her this was not true but I don't think she really believed me until she received a card from your brother, Kelly Peterson.

Shelly treasured the card she received from Kelly and read it to several of our family members . She was so comforted by his words.

The card read as follows:
“July 20, 2010
Dear Shelly, My mom told me the very unfortunate news and I want to express my deepest sympathy for you and your family. It seems as we all get older, we hear of many of our peers suffering one tragedy or another, but never suspect it would ever happen to ourselves.
It has, of course, been many years since our childhood and teenage days in San Jose, but many great and lasting memories were created that occupy my thoughts with some frequency. Roadshows, plays, school, family vacations and outings at beaches and lakes, camping trips - all foundations of who we are today.
Most important is our foundation in the Gospel and the wonderful blessing of knowing the greater eternal plan and the glorious peace that awaits us through our faithful endurance in this life - even when it appears it may be cut short. But remember, as I'm sure you do, that our days are numbered to God, not to us and that as some have said, "no righteous man (or woman) is taken before their time."
While I am not familiar with all the details, nor your family circumstances, I do know that you were born into a righteous family and the bonds of the sealing power will carry you through and past your trials and into the arms of a loving Heavenly Father.
May God bless you as you endure this most severe of trials and that your burden will be lifted and that you will feel the arms of the Savior embrace you and hold you and stregthen you, and that your example will touch the lives of many, now and into the future.
Please say hello to your parents and family.
With love and best regards, Kelly Peterson and Family. (He drew a smile).”

As I stated earlier, Shelly read Kelly's card to several of our family members as we individually visited her in the hospital. She marveled at the great spiritual growth Kelly exhibited in this card. She was comforted by his words and felt loved by him.

Now here's "The Rest of the Story:"

November 1, 2010, The Monday evening before Shelly's funeral, family and friends, including your parents, Larry and Rita Peterson, met at my parent's home (Lanny and LoRane Wallwork). I was talking with Rita and told her how much Shelly appreciated the card Kelly had sent her. Rita said that she would love to read the card. I told her I would find it.

I went and asked my mom where Shelly's cards were (as I knew she had cleaned out the room Shelly was living in). My mom said that she had thrown away all of the cards and papers from Shelly's room. The two of us rushed out to her garbage. When we opened the garbage can there were two bags, both of which came from Shelly's room. We took them out of the garbage and put them in my car.

Later that evening, as I wrote Shelly's Eulogy, my cousin, Lorna Meiners Brower, sorted through Shelly's stuff. One of the bags held all of Shelly's cards. Lorna did not find the card from Kelly among them. Lorna continued sorting through medical papers and basically, garbage from the hospital room. Tucked between two medical reports, Lorna discovered a card with sepia style sand dollars on the front, Kelly's card! We were so excited to find it. We also wondered why it was not with the other cards.

The next day, I was talking with my sister, Karen, and I told her about how we rescued Kelly's card from the garbage can just hours before the garbage was to be picked up.  I told her that the card had not been with the other cards but was with some medical papers.

Karen then told me that she remembered seeing the card as we gathered Shelly's belongings from her hospital room the morning of October 28, the day she died.

We then realized that Shelly had taken that card (Kelly’s card from July 20, 2010) back with her to the hospital when she was admitted on October 11, 2010.  Anyone who knows Shelly also knows that Shelly does not like "stuff." The fact that Shelly took Kelly's card with her to the hospital shows just how meaningful that card was to her.

Our family is so grateful to Kelly for writing that card to Shelly. Because of Kelly's letter, Shelly was reminded of the deep ties she had to friends from the past and also that she did make a difference and was loved by many.

I wanted you to know how special Kelly's card is to our family and what an amazing brother you have (I'm sure you already knew that).

Love you all,
Amy Wallwork Kinross
PS please pass this on to your mom and dad or send me their email so I can.

Replies:
Kristin Peterson Hughes November 8 at 9:11am

Reply• ReportWow. teary eyed so early in the day:) I’m in awe that it was so special to her, Kelly will be touched. it is so amazing, the bonds we all have from our good ol' san jo days. names come up in remembering those good times that we haven't mentioned in years but we still hold close to our hearts. Like Kelly said...we are of the age that we hear of our loved ones (parents, siblings) passing...and it just won't stop! but the thought of returning to our Heavenly Father gives me great peace. Thank you for sharing this. i will pass this along. give your parents hugs from us:) xoxox Kristin