Marcy's long, elegant fingers were rarely at rest. "Purposeful" defined her every waking moment, even - or perhaps, especially - once she was livingly dying. For her hands, this often meant being occupied in the service of art and beauty. A quilter, Marcy laid down many a stitch while plotting organizing strategies in living room meetings around the state, and later, in the chemo chair and on flights en route to experimental treatments.
I'm not sure whether the rocks came before or after her Stage IV cancer diagnosis. I do know these exquisite touchstones became one of her many trademarks. Painting them calmed her and fulfilled that sense of purpose. Gifting them provided a physical link connecting her to scores of supporters and sister sufferers.
When Marcy asked for prayers on Facebook, many responded with photos of their rocks. Her rocks in their hands. Her rocks on their altars. Her rocks on their supper tables. The day after her burial, when Rural Organizing Project activists gathered from across the state for their annual caucus, Marcy's rocks were among the cherished items on the remembrance table honoring her.
I glimpsed the full impact of her rock project when I received a condolence note from Paul Cacciatore, founder of Libby's H*O*P*E* (*Helping *Ovarian Cancer Survivors *Persevere Through *Education). For years Paul had been providing Marcy with in-depth research leads, presented in layperson's language with the utmost care and compassion. When he learned of Marcy's death, he wrote to me with this story:
I'm not sure whether the rocks came before or after her Stage IV cancer diagnosis. I do know these exquisite touchstones became one of her many trademarks. Painting them calmed her and fulfilled that sense of purpose. Gifting them provided a physical link connecting her to scores of supporters and sister sufferers.
When Marcy asked for prayers on Facebook, many responded with photos of their rocks. Her rocks in their hands. Her rocks on their altars. Her rocks on their supper tables. The day after her burial, when Rural Organizing Project activists gathered from across the state for their annual caucus, Marcy's rocks were among the cherished items on the remembrance table honoring her.
I glimpsed the full impact of her rock project when I received a condolence note from Paul Cacciatore, founder of Libby's H*O*P*E* (*Helping *Ovarian Cancer Survivors *Persevere Through *Education). For years Paul had been providing Marcy with in-depth research leads, presented in layperson's language with the utmost care and compassion. When he learned of Marcy's death, he wrote to me with this story:
I understood who Marcy was soon after "meeting her" online. About a week after I provided Marcy with a detailed written email regarding ovarian cancer educational and treatment information, I received a mail package from her. The package contained a hand-painted "meditation rock" and a brief handwritten thank you note.
Marcy's thank you note read as follows:
"August 2012 -- Thank you, Paul & Libby's H*O*P*E*, for cheering me on with information and support as I live with stage IV ovarian cancer. Your work makes a huge difference to me and my community. I enclose a small token of appreciation. I paint these "meditation rocks" -- May this remind you of the amazing positive ripples you have on this planet. With love, Marcy Westerling"
Marcy's note of encouragement and meditation rock mean the world to me. If Marcy only knew what a tremendous impact her simple act of kindness had on me and my ongoing ovarian cancer advocacy efforts. To date, when I am responding to ovarian cancer survivors and their family members late at night on weekdays and weekends, I often pick up Marcy's meditation rock and pray for strength and inspiration. Moving ahead, Marcy's meditation rock will carry additional meaning for me, as a reminder of the positive impact that one person can have on the world. Truth be told, the rock will always remind me of the "amazing positive ripples" that Marcy had on this planet.
Libby's H*O*P*E* (*Helping *Ovarian Cancer Survivors *Persevere Through *Education): www.libbyshope.com
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