The photo above was taken a couple years ago, the first time I really got a chance to hang out with Samantha. I guess it was the moment we finally made a connection. She told me I’d love The Story People and oh my goodness did she get me. She told me about some wishes she has, and they haven’t come true yet. Her time here is not done, that’s all I know. Later she emailed me a funny outtake from our photo shoot, with these words.

A couple years later and I shared some of my secret wishes with her, and they came true. She hasn’t been well enough to see it, and to know her heart-hand in it. I just hope she can feel it and know it.

I know her, and I feel like I know her heart, but I have not known her for a long period of time, and maybe you haven’t either. Maybe you’ve never met but you’ve seen her photos. I ask that you please consider to come to the benefit this Friday night.

Friday June 17, 6 PM at Cornucopia Coffee Company 210 E Lincolnway in downtown Valparaiso

$10 donation gets you live music & a raffle ticket to win many awesome prizes including photo shoots, gift certificates, event tickets, & more. Proceeds will benefit Samantha Uphold and her fight against Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Find out more info on the event’s Facebook page here. I will be there.

*Edited to add: it grieves me to have to update this post, but shortly after I published this on Monday I found out Samantha passed away. The benefit will continue as planned, now also as a memorial to Samantha and her phenomenal life and big heart and blue eyes and radiant smile.

Stephanie is Mom to three boys & a girl in Valparaiso, IN and blogs daily at Adventures In Babywearing . Follow her on Twitter- she’s babysteph .