Dear Josephine
Dear Josephine,
Yesterday your father shared the news that your wonderful mom, Samantha, passed in her sleep early Christmas morning. Though we knew your mom had been battling cancer for a long time with incredible bravery, we still can’t believe we won’t see her again and our hearts are broken. We know our grief and shock are nothing compared to the loss you and your dad are facing.
Over the next days, months, and years many of those who knew and loved your mom will share stories about her so you may know her better through their memories. They will tell you about her childhood, college escapades, and days as a daring derby girl. They will reflect on her love for your dad, her joy in motherhood, her professionalism at work, her commitment to social justice.
Those of us who knew your mom through her advocacy with Little Lobbyists have been sharing our memories with one another, paying tribute to the wonderful person she was. We’d like to honor your mom’s memory by telling you how much we loved her and how – because of her love for you – she worked to change our country for the better.
Your mom met up with us in 2017 when the political party in power was trying to destroy our country’s health care protections, threatening our kids with complex medical needs and disabilities access to the care they needed to survive and thrive at home instead of living in a medical facility or institution. (We hope by the time you read this letter that idea sounds absurd, and that our country finally guarantees health care as the right your mom and all the Little Lobbyists believe it is.) That summer, a small group of families – your mom and dad included – knew it was up to us to protect all our children. We showed up on Capitol Hill to tell our stories. A reporter who wrote about our families gave us the name “Little Lobbyists” in honor of kids like you.
To paraphrase our co-founder Elena (who befriended your mom a year earlier in the local trach group), your mom knew there wasn’t a thing she’d change about you, but there were countless things she would change about our country for it to become the place you need to thrive. She took you with her to Capitol Hill, so members of Congress could meet you and see whose life was at stake in the votes they took. She wanted legislators to understand that a better future is possible for ALL of us with the right policies.
Your mom’s warmth opened the door, and her determination got you both through it. She made sure you met future and past presidential candidates, including our first female Black and Asian Vice President, so you’d be represented by those in power. She gave powerful speeches in the Capitol and countless interviews to reporters, telling your family’s story over and over again.
She never, ever gave up.
Everyone who met your mom loved her. She radiated warmth and kindness and could make the most nervous and new-to-advocacy feel like they belonged. Even in serious situations, she brought joy with her — dressing you up in the most adorable tiny pink Doc Martens, trick-or-treating in the Senate, celebrating victories small and large. She kept in touch. She always showed up.
Little by little, you and your mom and all our Little Lobbyists families changed hearts and minds. We saved our health care protections and are working to create the change our country needs to be worthy of you as you grow. Our deepest sorrow is knowing you will grow up without your mom beside you, where she most wanted to be.
As you face the challenges and triumphs in your future, know that our Little Lobbyists family will always be here for you. Most of all, know how much of your mom is part of you.
Your smile has your mom’s open, gracious warmth. Your deep brown eyes have her joyful, mischievous sparkle – always ready to get into “good trouble.” Most of all, you have her determination. Your mom frequently beamed with pride when sharing your determination to reach each new milestone – eating, walking, climbing – and we all knew your spirit came from her.
Dear Josephine – stay determined. Stay open and warm, joyful, a little mischievous, and always ready for good trouble. We promise we will keep showing up for you and all our families – in honor of your mother’s indomitable spirit – to create a country worthy of us all.
All our love, always,
Your Little Lobbyists family
“The minute I met her I felt like we’d been friends forever. She was a bright and fierce force of nature. So much so that when you came within 50 feet of her she had her own gravity that pulled you in. She was a badass, an amazing friend and a person who always told it like it is.” - Tasha
“Sam was an amazing friend and mom. You could always depend on her, and we could talk for hours. She used to tell me so many stories about Jo, and man, she loved that kid. Sam was love and fire and determination- an incredible person.” - Caroline
“Sam was one of the first moms to welcome me into the Little Lobbyists crew. I remember sitting with her at an event and asking her a million questions about her home health nurses. She’s a big part of the reason I’m about to start back to work as a pediatric home health nurse.” -Alison
“Sam was so fun, and so kind. I’ll never forget how she drove over an hour to come to my daughter’s skateland fundraiser for Lymphoma. She showed up with a huge smile and an even bigger hug. She was wearing her derby girl best and had attached rainbow lights to Jo’s wheelchair. It was pure joy to watch her fly around the rink.” - Laura
“I was immediately impressed with Sam's sense of humor and her dedication to saving health care. No matter what, Sam was up for advocacy, even as she and Jo each dealt with their medical needs. I wish I'd had longer with her.” - Jeneva
“Sam was my favorite kind of person from the moment we met: equal parts kind and badass, thoughtful and spontaneous, funny and serious. She was a bold leader who knew she was part of something much bigger than herself, always making others feel welcomed. Truly one of a kind. We bonded over our feisty daughters (often joking about how they were the boss of us) and we never forgot what was truly important.” - Elena
