This is a post we always knew would come, but it is still hard to write.
Based on Vanessa’s current symptoms, today our hospice team estimated that we are in our last few days with Vanessa. This week, everything has moved very quickly. We are so grateful for our families, who have rallied around us as we process this now rapidly changing situation. They have been with us through every emotion of the spectrum; just today we have all cried and laughed and been present to one another in such beautiful ways.
Thank you so much for your continued support.
Update: Vanessa took her last breaths on Sunday, Feb. 23, surrounded by love.
i will live sincerely, in v’s honor, all the rest of my life. my love and thoughts with your whole family. xoxo
You are all in my heart and thoughts always.
Christina, you and your family continue to be in my prayers.
I don’t know you, and I’m not even sure how I stumbled across Live Sincerely, but I’ve continued to follow Vanessa’s fight. I’ve prayed for peace of heart, mind, and soul for V and Your entire family and will continue to do so. Thank you for sharing her with us-
Many miles away, yet so close in my heart. ..Albuquerque, NM
I truly can not express how much my heart goes out to you. You will be in my thoughts.
As a young woman with two terminal stage 4 cancers, I’ve followed your blog for sometime now. I followed because it has touched my heart so deeply, the love you sisters have for one another. Something my own family simply doesn’t know how to do. You ALL have spoken to my soul in different ways. Tonight,I grieve with you in this step.Thank you for sharing LS lives with me. You each are a treasure.
prayers to all.
Keeping Vanessa & family in my heart & prayers. Live Sincerely ❤️ XOXO
There are no words. Praying for Vanessa’s comfort and peace for you all. Love and hugs xxx
Ouch! Sending love and comfort! xo Bany
Praying so hard for all of you… Big hugs!
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family.
Thinking of you and holding you close to my heart and keeping you and your love ones in my prayers.
LOVE NEVER FAILS and YOU “VANESSA” ARE SO LOVED!
You all remain in the thoughts and prayers of the Sisters of Providence. May that Providence embrace Vanessa and you in all the ways each of you needs.
Prayers for peaceful journey…gratitude for allowing us to be a part of a very special family. Your collective strength is amazing and inspiring.
Thinking of you all and praying as you journey through this difficult time.
Always Live Sincerely
My heart and prayers go out to Billy and the rest of the family. Strong Love Strong Life, Sincerely, Celina Woods
Been following from the beginning. I pray for peace for Vanessa, Billy, you amazing sisters and the rest of the family. I will continue to Live Sincerely.
Praying for peace as your friends and family move forward through this journey. My late friend, Sara Coulter, spread the Live Sincerely Project among her friends and family before passing. We miss her dearly but remember her when we put on our necklaces and remember their meaning. V leaves a legacy behind through her pledge. We will live sincerely!! Much love to you all
Thoughts and prayers continue for all of you.
Dear V and loved ones of,
Wishing you peace and strength. You lead by example and I truly appreciate the lessons. I will remember.
Love. Dave Drinkhouse and the Drinkhouse family
Sending out my prayers. Thank you for sharing V’s journey and continuing to live sincerely.
Dear Vanessa and family,
My heart and prayers are with you during this very horrible time. I hope you can find peace. Many hugs and prayers for you all. – Michelle
I am so sorry. My thoughts and prayers are wtih all of you in these coming days. May the strength of others lift you up when you are spent. Vanessa is so surrounded in the love that all of you shower upon her. Wishing all of you peace as she passes on to a place where pain does not live, only joy.
Vanessa’s love will come shing through into all we do going forward. Her love and memories will live on forever….much love to your family and friends gathered around her… Live Sincerely. Love Sincerely. Laugh Sincerely.
Billy, Vanessa and family. My prayers are with you all. You will all find strength within you because of the faith that you have and live by. It is all in God’s hands. He will guide us all through. We love you, Vicki, Al and Kim
So very sorry to hear. All of you are in our thoughts and prayers. The Kernen Family
And we strangers, too, are with you all, embracing you and trying to hold you up as you gently pull apart.
In my thoughts and in my heart. Be strong. Natalia. Moscow, Russia
Praying hard for Vanessa, her husband, and entire family. My sons went to NCC with Vanessa and they have commented many times what a wonderful person she has always been. What a wonderful legacy to know Vanessa has always been loved by her classmates and friends. May God give you the peace you need during this devastating time.
To my friend I’ve never met and her family – thank you for sharing your wisdom and courage with me and with so many. Vanessa may you travel sincerely with peace, light and love to your next destination.
Our loving thoughts and heavy hearts are with all of the Blust family as you endure this most difficult time. Vanessa, your lessons will live on to inspire all == We love you! Nora, Stuart, Claire, Grace & Eve Ami
V will always be in my heart..She is the strongest person I know and I will always love her
living sincerely in Jerusalem and blessing you all with strength & peace
Thoughts and prayers to you all. Thank you for sharing the entire journey and allowing and challenging us all to Live Sincerely. May we all continue to live sincerely for the duration of each of our own lives.
Love.
Prayers & love to your whole family.
My heart physically hurts right now for all of you….
I know Jesus met Vanessa and said “Job well done my faithful follower”
You will be forever missed.
I have just discovered the Live Sincerely Project. I am inspired. I will keep all of you in my prayers, and especially for Vanessa’s comfort and peace. May God bless you all.
My sister and I had the honor of meeting Vanessa and Billy last year at the Karen Wellington luncheon. My sister called me today and told me of Vanessa’s passing. I wish there was something I could say that would make it all seem to make sense, or somehow take away some of this pain..but you have all been part of a legacy that will surely live on through the project. Blessings to you all, in love & light.
You are in my thougts and prayers! Much strength, peace and love to you all!
I’m so sorry to read this. Peace to you all.
Keeping V and your family in my prayers. May the final step of this journey be peaceful and love-filled.
I have been following Vanessa’s journey for the past year and a half. Ever since I stumbled onto your site while looking for some comfort after receiving my own cancer diagnosis.
Having just heard of Vanessa’s passing, my heart, although heavy, and love goes out to you all. I have been in awe of Vanessa’s resilience, her determination to not only live but to love life openly, with vulnerability… sincerely. For all those of us who have been touched by her message, taken our pledge, it is one we will live by till our own passing from this life.
Her time here on earth was short, but damn, how blessed was she to have had a Christina, Jessica and Billy in her life? The strength and pureness of your love towards her can be felt globally (I am in Hong Kong) .
May Vanessa rest in peace, and may you all find peace in knowing she was dearly loved. x
Thank you so much for sharing this story. Peace, love and light to Vanessa and all of you.
Billy, I am so sad to hear about Vanessa. Peace, love and blessings from the Kirk family to yours.
Vanessa gave good and love in Living Sincerely so we will feel this good and love eternally.
Such beauty & sadness. Vanessa’s legacy of living sincerely will definitely live on in the hearts of many, including my own. Prayers for all who loved her and for all who face the life altering effects of cancer.
Peace to you all.
May the work and life of the Live Sincerely Project continue beyond the loss of Vanessa.
I’ve been following Vanessa’s blog for one year. You’re an amazing family and I’m deeply moved by your story. Such a blessing for Vanessa to have you around her, such beautiful souls you all are. May she rest in peace and in light. Hugs and prayers from Italy.
I met Vanessa at the Scar Project event in Cincinnati. I was taken with her beauty and grace. She was willing to show her scars so that others could understand some of the devastation this disease brings. She inspired me in my own fight against breast cancer. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
My heart aches for you and your family. I’m so sorry that Vanessa’s journey ends here, but so glad that you can carry on her wonderful legacy. She made a difference.
Oh gosh…….I’m so sorry to hear this but perhaps also relieved to hear that Vanessa is no longer in pain. Hearing about her suffering and disorientation was heartbreaking. The story of her amazing sisters and husband will stay with me. Your grace and caring were inspirational. Cancer is such a wretched disease and its easy to be angry. But instead we must all Live Sincerely. Rest in peace Vanessa – and may her lovely family also.
To all you brave souls, the family, the loves of Vanessas’ life,
deep heartsore, quiet, tender, unspoken, rippled and shared in another country, on another continent, from a stranger,
condolences, to you you all.
and from this stranger also, an existential thanks from those that can no longer speak, for the care, the patience, the kindness, the immense unconditional love and support, you have given of yourselves to another.
thank you for sharing your stories,
you are all brave, bursting with love and remarkably strong and loving.
Vanessas light shines on…
so much sincere love to you all
x