This morning I arose early as today is Palm Sunday. I have a story about a friend’s son. Today is the best day to write this story as he regarded Holy Week as the most important time of the year. I have carried Steven Passmore’s story close to my heart for two years now. Steven died at the age of twenty-nine in the night time between Good Friday and Holy Saturday on April 14th, 2006.
         Circumstances brought our families together. Steven had Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. I met his family when he was a teenager. He was the only son to his parents, Dennis and Anita Passmore. It was always most important to me to be able to connect with the families who had sons with this disability as they were the best resources. They are also some of the most important people in my life.
         One morning I received a phone call from the MDA office that the family was trying to reach me and they did not have my new number. I called them immediately and found that they wanted me to know of Steven’s passing. I arranged to be there on that day because I had to be there. My husband and I drove to the service.
         On a table at the church were items from Steven’s life with many letters from all over the world via e-mail. At the time, I found it too difficult to read the letters. His class ring was there, as well as graduation pictures and personal mementos from his life.
         His best friend and caregiver for twelve years, Tom, gave his eulogy. It was poignant, sometimes making us laugh, but recalling a young man who had many struggles in his lifetime, mostly due to his health. I looked around the room and saw people who thought highly of him that he knew in his lifetime. I was very sad for all he had been through in his life.
         My sadness turned to fascination when Tom told the story of Steven’s last three weeks. Tom spoke over and over of Steven’s struggles and his near death experiences. These things helped Steven accept God in his life and that became his mission for the rest of his years. He helped many throughout the world who needed some guidance, through his emails. Those letters in a folder on the table contained testimonies from people all around the Globe and told what Steven meant to each of them. Tom sent a message to all of Steven’s internet friends to inform them of Steven’s passing. The response was overwhelming as messages flooded into Steven’s computer. 
         This Easter and every Easter, I shall think of Steven and his family. Tom spoke of the last three weeks and how Steven spent most of his day sleeping. One day, Steven, asked Tom if they could read the Bible together. Steven wanted to read about the most meaningful time of Holy Week. Tom said, “Steven told me to stop reading before we got to the part about the Resurrection” Then a few days later, Steven told Tom that he wished to watch ‘The Passion’ with Tom. Remember Steven had been sleeping for the most part all the time. Tom told us that Steven stayed awake for the whole movie. It was that meaningful to him. I wish Mel Gibson knew the role this movie played in Steven’s life. That story is almost as good as the movie itself, in my opinion. If I recall, Steven told Tom when he was ready to read the part in the Bible about the Resurrection.  Tom told us the next day, when Steven was ready for bed, that Steven, said goodbye to his friend Tom. I think in his heart Tom knew he would not see his friend anymore and that it was goodbye. There was no stronger friendship than theirs. Tom told us that Steven passed in the nighttime between Good Friday and Holy Saturday. Since that was the most important time in the Bible for Steven, I am amazed and truly believe he chose to die at that time. Religion had helped him to cope with so much in his life. If any of you want to read Steven’s story, he had one final wish before he passed. That wish was to get his poems and stories published. I was fortunate to receive as a gift from his mother a copy of his book. It brought tears to my eyes but it was cleansing. His love for his Higher Power and his reference many times to Holy Week in his book, all dated entries, will truly amaze you. He was a great inspiration to me and I hope you check out his book on www.amazon.com  “God’s Love Can Carry You Through Anything” (2006)