Hi –

Hope you’re having a great day.

I wanted to tell you about an amazing letter.

It was written by a woman I knew well, Sherry Dimarsky.

Why am I sharing it now?

Because today is the anniversary of her passing, her yartzait.

And I hope it will inspire you.

… Sherry was one of the smartest people I’ve ever met.

After earning a law degree from Northwestern, she practiced law for a short time.

But she gave up her legal career and chose to devote her life to the Jewish community.

She was one of the founders of Shalva which combats domestic abuse.

Later, Sherry, together with her husband, founded an outreach program for Russian Jews.

She became an inspiration for Jewish women all over the world.

… Unfortunately, as a young woman Sherry developed a chronic lung condition.

And after a long wait, she received a lung transplant.

All was great for three years and then tragedy struck.

Her body rejected the lung.

Her only hope was a second transplant.

And while waiting, not knowing how much time she had left?

When she could have been focused totally on herself and her family?

She sat down and wrote a letter…

… To the family that gave her the gift of life.

She wanted to assure them that their gift was not in vain.

Here’s some of what this amazing woman wrote.

“I am Sherry…

The blessed woman with the honor of carrying Jessica’s left lung in a hug every day.

She shared some highlights of the last three years.

“A trip to Israel with my family.  Two Bar Mitzvahs.

Regular old life, lunches to pack, baseball games to attend… dry cleaning to pick up…

And the Cubs losing yet another one.”

Then she told them about her failing health.

“I need to tell you that it does not in any way change the blessing she has given me.

I have tried hard to use these three years to …

Work on my character, raise good children, grow closer to G-d and bring joy to others.

I’ve even tried to be nice to my poor husband, though certainly not enough.

Please don’t feel that Jessica’s life has ended more if / when mine does.

It continues… with all the people EACH of us touch.”

… Sherry’s life continues with all the people she touched.

And I hope that her letter has touched you!