Please watch the video at the bottom of this post to see and hear Abby in her final days. Her life has touched mine.
Abigail Rachel Ruth Smith went home to be with Jesus Christ on December 7, 2013 at 6:09 a.m. She was 24 years old and a professional photographer. She impacted more people in her short time on earth than many do in much longer lifetimes. Her bright red curly hair and friendly personality made her everybody’s friend. Abby was diagnosed with Synovial Cell Sarcoma (a rare cancer) in 2012 and underwent surgery and 37 radiation treatments. When her doctor gave her the diagnosis, he told her some life-changing words: “Everyone is dealt a deck of cards. We don’t get to choose the cards, but we do get to choose how we play them. We can either be bitter or thankful.” Abby chose thankful, even when she found out that the cancer had metastasized. Instead of going through chemotherapy (which only had a small chance of slowing down the cancer), she chose instead to live life to the fullest. She and her brothers went to Ireland. She kept doing photography sessions. She spoke to many church and youth groups about how her faith and trust in Jesus had helped her in her journey. And two months before she died, Abby and her family went to Ukraine (where her parents had served as missionaries when Abby was 3) on “The Last Family Trip.” During the two weeks they were there, Abby’s physical condition deteriorated and breathing became a struggle. After a short hospitalization on her return, she came home on hospice. From her hospital bed at home, she continued to touch people’s lives around the world from her “Amazing Abby” Face Book page.Abigail is survived by her mom and dad, Betty & Ron Smith, her brothers, Adam, Andrew, Amos and David Smith all of Duncan, OK. She is also survived by her grandmother, Rachel Smith, of Duncan, her grandparents, Richard & Faith Blight, of Duncanville, TX and numerous other relatives. A memorial celebration will be held at Ray of Hope Church, Comanche, OK on Saturday December 14, 2013 at 2 p.m.In lieu of flowers, Abby requested donations to be made to the Abigail Smith Fund, PayPal http://bit.ly/U4nmlZ or via mail: PO Box 502, Duncan, OK 73534, which will be used to help children and young people with cancer as well as several missionaries who were close to her heart.
