Allison Shaw was our special needs angel who taught us how to live. Her calm demeanor belied her fierce will and ability to overcome the harshest of medical issues.
Allison loved life and spread her joy (I'm not short, I'm fun size!) and passion to all with her warm communication skills and vibrant smile. Allison possessed incomparable social skills and delicately applied them in her typically understated manner. Unfailingly polite, she always introduced family and she never, ever held a grudge.
Her ever-present smile could buckle your knees, and her infectious laugh lit up the gloomiest of rooms. Her ability to make a friend, to put people at ease was unique. No matter the person, child or adult, and whatever their afflictions, either real or perceived, she only saw the best in you. Would you like to color with me? She was incredibly tender, genuine, and everybody liked her. She made it look easy. So simple, ever pure, always Allison.
Allison's teaching style was subtle – the drip, drip, drip of every day's influence.
If she can manage fear with hope and dignity in ongoing difficult painful situations, couldn't we be able to do a better job in our daily lives managing much less serious worries? If her keen awareness and subsequent acceptance of a cruel fate allowed her to experience joy on a most arduous path, shouldn't we, her protégés, also find joy in the simple pleasures of our lives?
Although Allison has left us, her lessons taught will live on forever not only in the intended occupations of her siblings (medicine, special education teacher) but also in their lineage. And while her death is eternal, so too, it seems, her life will be.
Allison, you are so loved – the privilege was ours.
The Shaw Family
