A Christmas Prayer

Christmas Picture Frame

My sweet daughter Candice Faye died October 24, 1994, four days before her 13th birthday. We were devastated. In between Aimee and Robbie, she was the glue, the laughter, the love.

As the holidays approached the next year, we were all wondering how to cope, when my youngest sister wrote this poem.

A CHRISTMAS PRAYER

This is the time of year
When we give to each other
The greatest gifts of all;
Our time together,
Our memories.
For us there will always be, at Christmas,
An empty chair, an unbought gift
A smile not shared
For someone is missing ~
Whose caring and love
Created joy in abundance
For all blessed enough
To have known her.
It is my prayer
That I may be
Thankful
To have been included
In the parenthesis in time
That was her life
And for my memories of her.
With love for Candi, Aunt Patti 11/97


This loving tribute was and is a tender reminder, that, although we miss her terribly still, we will always have our memories of The Gift of Candi in our lives. Wendy Vaniglia, Mom

For more information on CUSTOM DESIGNED FRAMES click here: http://www.mycmsite.com/sites/wendyv

Even Tradition Has Become Unfamiliar

We are taking the familiar hour long trip to our grandparents' house for Thanksgiving. It is a tradition, but things are very different for my family this year. My mom is in the front seat with tears running down her tired face, and she lets out an occasional sniffle. The car is quiet, almost too quiet. If you listen closely you can hear the breaking of a mother's relentlessly hurting heart. We finally get to Grandma's. The usual hugs and kisses. "The family is fine," my Dad tells everyone. Turkey, potatoes, rolls. Everything tastes the same as every year. Grandpa and Dad are talking about family and years past. Mom is unusually quiet, she is still upset. We used to look forward to Holidays, but not anymore. Even Tradition Has Become Unfamiliar.
~ Aimee Vaniglia, Thanksgiving Day - 1 month after her sister Candi died.

Candi's Gift Video

Miracle Gift - Book of Organ Donor Stories

Twenty-six years ago I was given the incredible gift of a daughter, Candice Faye. Everyone loved Candi, she was joy and laughter. It wasn’t until she died, however, that I understood the extent of her love and kindness, and THE GIFT THAT WAS HER LIFE. The priceless gift she was and is to all who knew her.

The poet, Thomas Campbell wrote, "TO LIVE IN TH HEARTS WE LEAVE BEHIND IS NOT TO DIE." My life's work is helping others record and share the stories, the celebrations, the loves, and the lives of each and every person, especially those we've lost. It has been my deepest desire to preserve the memory and stories of cherished loved ones who have given or received the Gift of Life. In an effort to give back to a world that has given so much to me, I am CREATING A PHOTO STORY BOOK honoring those special people who have given the gift of life. Because these stories have affected me so deeply, I know others will be captivated by them as well. Together we will REMEMBER, CELEBRATE and CHERISH the gift of life and help raise awareness for the hope and blessing of organ donation.

IF YOU HAVE A STORY TO SHARE, please send along with 1-6 of your favorite photos and I will add them to my book, The Miracle Gift. When I have completed this book of Miracle Gifts, I will share it with you. You will be able to preview this book and forward the link to others. All the proceeds from this book will go to help raise awareness of the hope and blessing of the Gift of Life. I am hoping to complete this book soon so we can have it ready for holiday gift giving.

In humble gratitude for the gift of your story,
I remain sincerely, WendyV ~ Candi's Mom

Tears, Tears, and More Tears...

SIX YEARS AFTER Candi died we had the awesome and amazing privilege of meeting one of the recipients of our daughter's organs. At the Center for Donation and Transplant Center in Albany, NY, the Center Coordinators, who spoke to us about Candi's donation and so compassionately cared for Candice and our family during Candi's gift of life, organized the meeting between CANDI'S HEART RECIPIENT and OUR FAMILY.

HOW WOULD WE FEEL? How would he feel? Would it be too strange, too uncomfortable or even frightening? Would we feel connected to Candi? What if we didn't like him? What if we liked him too much? What if he didn't like us?

Awash in conflicting and sometimes OVERWHELMING EMOTIONS we anxiously waited in the conference room at the Center for Donation and Transplant. Media cameras and reporters questioned us about Candi. How did she die, they asked? What made you decide to donate her organs?

Suddenly someone tells us, It's time, HE'S HERE! Across the room the door opens and in walks the most loving and tender face I have ever seen. As soon as our eyes meet, dear Seamus freezes mid-step. MY HEART FLEW OUT TO HIS as I rushed to Seamus and threw my arms around his neck, crushing the enormous bouquet of brightly colored spring flowers in his arms. WE CONNECT IMMEDIATELY, without words, without stories, without photos, we bond. DONOR MOM TO RECIPIENT.

We sit, cameras clicking and videos rolling, with eyes only for each other, drinking in the faces, the eyes, the smiles. Seamus speaks first. "I want you to know, I have to tell you...I HAVE PRAYED FOR YOU EVERYDAY, that your lives are being healed from your terrible loss. I want you to know I am taking very good care of your daughter's heart." Look here is a letter from my family, they want you to know how much they appreciate you for the most generous gift you have given me."

TEARS, TEARS AND MORE TEARS. When the meeting and media interviews are over there is an entire box of wrinkled Kleenex on the floor under our chairs.

"Let me show you something." Seamus tells me, "I didn't know her name, so I called her MY ANGEL." As a competitive cyclist, Seamus has a racing shirt on which he has emblazoned the logo, My Angel gave me the gift of her heart.

Together we look through Candi's photo story album. He wants to know about the little girl WHO'S HEART HE NOW CARRIES INSIDE. Darling, tender, sweet Seamus is overwhelmed as he pours over her photos and the stories of her short life. Why did she have to die? "This should have been me, I'm an old man." Seamus tearfully exclaims.

WHAT I DIDN'T EXPECT, was that Seamus Healy, recipient of the gift of my daughter's sweet heart, would be the most incredible, UNEXPECTED GIFT TO ME. My heart will be FOREVER SOOTHED by the sweet and loving Irish man who prays for us everyday.

13th Anniversary of Candi's Gift

Heart Recipient, Seamus Healy and Donor Mom, Wendy Vangilia.
So Grateful for the Gift of Candi

i carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me(i carry it in
my heart)i am never without it(anywhere
i go you go,my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing,my darling)


i fear no fate(for you are my fate,my sweet)i want
no world(for beautiful you are my world,my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows

(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart


i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart)

ee cummings

Never Again by Aimee Vaniglia

Your dark eyes gently close

As you fall into a deep eternal sleep.

The sparkle slowly fades -

Never to be seen again.

My heart cries out to you

Pleading for your return,

But you are leaving forever -

Never to come home again.

As I touched your hand

I wanted you to play and be a child,

But you were so still and cold -

Never to breathe with life again.

I miss you deeply day after day,

Emptiness aches inside me,

But you are now in heaven -

Never to feel pain again.