Kathy Usher's daughter Beth underwent a hemispherectomy in February 1987. Here are her thoughts on the passing of Diana Pillas.

We have been numb and sort of lightheaded and heavyhearted at the same time. Twenty-three years ago, I remember feeling so low that I could barely hold my head up - all of a sudden Diana would come sweeping into Beth's hospital room filling it up with hope and comfort - forcing us to get something to eat or to get some sleep.  I remember how furious she was when a colleague thought Beth would not come out of her coma and as he casually left her room he said she would function no more than a newborn. I thought Diana might get arrested that night in her defense of Beth. She was a mother lioness protecting her cub. She stayed the entire night consoling me and reassuring me that both you and Dr. Carson fully believed that Beth would recover. 

When Beth did wake up, she had short-term memory problems and couldn't remember names. She could remember details about a person but not their name. She constantly called out for the "sparkly, shining lady" - her eyes would open wide with excitement at the sight of Diana and for several minutes, she'd forget her pain.  She just wanted to have fun with the sparkly, shining lady she so loved and thought of as her very own fairy godmother. Beth felt safe when Diana was around. They loved each others' jokes and plotted to fool others with new ones. Beth could tell when Diana was walking down the hospital hall toward her room. Diana's bracelets would jingle letting Beth know that she was getting closer and closer. When Diana entered the room, Beth would dissolve in hysterical laughter just anticipating the fun they would have.

We were blessed to have her in our lives and in the lives of kids and families in such desperate need. We live in a kind of twilight zone where it is hard to sort out what goes on in our world - we are all connected by incredible and emotional events.  We are scared, angry, confused and shocked at what is being proposed as the only hope for our kids.  Diana sorted through all of this hurt and was able to present it to us in a manner we all could embrace.  We drove her crazy at times, demanded she drop everything to answer our questions, expected her to take care of any number of issues, and even expected her to sit with us on weekends.

Despite all of this abuse, Diana welcomed the next family with opened arms. She took care of the afflicted child AND the whole family.  It was our good fortune to connect with a Diana Pillas who listened to my cries and inaudible words. The day Beth was discharged, I looked back at Diana waving and blowing kisses with tears of joy rolling down her face.  I know that she had so much love for each child she sent home.  We will never forget our beautiful happy smiling sparkly, jingly lady who seemed so much larger than life - like a Greek Goddess with magical powers.  We love you so much, Diana, and we thank you for keeping us afloat when we thought we were truly sinking down.  I thank you for your years and years of friendship and in only being a phone call away - for being a major part of a special team who saved my child.  You are a  sparkly, shining Goddess who has made a significant difference in many lives. 

- Kathy Usher, February 10, 2010