Ann,

My eyes are still brimming with tears after seeing your story, as well as that of your father.  Your work, over the years, over many programs and stories, has ALWAYS touched me intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually.

Your family's story tonight, however, is indeed special.  You’ve never failed to bring a message of hope, even in the most daunting circumstances.  Ann, you have often inspired me:  your sense of dignity, professionalism, and capability to unravel the facets of your family’s story or the scope of human experience, whether private tragedy or public celebration.

Thank you, Ann Curry.  Nervousness?  Understood and respected.  Embarrassed?  Appreciated, in terms of your point-of-view and experience.  My experience and perspective is quite different in my thoughts of you and your work:  one of honor, one of gratitude, and one of a sincere sense of courage.

Thank you, Bob Curry!  You raised a daughter who is an obvious reflection to a great man (I’ll take the opportunity here too, Ann, to thank your mom!).  I am more than proud of your daughter and her accomplishments over time.  Ann reminds me, in constant measure, to never settle for anything mediocre in life.

Thank you, Bob Curry, for sharing the sparkle of your eye in such a profound and public way!!!  Thank you for sharing your family in such a way as to remind each of us to love one another, rising to the occasion of greatness in both family and community.

Ann,

I just watched your heartfelt report on the loss of your dad. My father passed over 10 years ago and I still feel the loss. Recently my mother-in-law passed after months in hospice care. I cannot relate how wonderful the folks working in hospice care are and I commend them and pray for them daily for the work they do. I know I would not be able to touch lives the way they do each and every day.

Thank you and your family for your courage and your sharing of such a needed story.

Hi Ann, my condolences to you and your family. Your father has left a wonderful legacy in you. It is very apparent watching you every day and your graciousness with others. You also seem to quite often have a beautiful smile on your face that looks just like his.

Thank you for sharing-it's help!!

Lucy

Ann,

You gave so many of us a lasting gift.  Thank you for opening up your home to our souls.  Those of us caring for elderly parents are strengthened by the company of gracious, loving and courageous people like you and your loved ones.  God bless your Dad.  I am sure he is in a good place.

Dear Ann,
I first met your father and mother at a YMCA Sunday tea and dance.  My father-in-law, Richard Cottle, is the leader of the Easy Valley Eight band that plays in Ashland, Oregon.  Your parents were delightful!  Your father was so charming!  They sure knew how to cut a rug!
I dearly loved the piece you shared with us all!  My father is slowly dying from metastasized cancer.  He shares that same spirit, strength, and fear that your father expressed!  It is a blessing to me to hear from them that sacred voice that echoes throughout the ages.
To share those photos of your father, to see in his eyes the depth of emotion is powerful!    
My heart sends love and peace to your mother and your family!

With great emotion,
Tara Cottle
Ashland, Oregon

Thank You so much Ann,
Your story touched me so deeply.  One month ago, my mother was diagnosed with Alzheimers. I am 46 years old, the youngest of 4, she is 79. The grief I feel has been so immense. Adding to that the death of 2 uncles and my brother having a heart attack (all within one month), and for the last 16 years having been a single mother. Then 4 years ago, my most "perfect" son who was 17 at the time was diagnosed "schizafffective" (bipolar/schizophrenic), so my proverbial plate has been so full, I have been so out of touch, surviving...  so the worse news then besides my son's illness was my mother's diagnosis of Alzheimers.  Your story about living and dying with honor and love has brought me to complete tears, and I think a bit of "letting go".  My 2 sisters and brother and I all want to spend as much time with her as we can too, but all live in different places, have family, and I. certainly not the means to take off work and fly to Iowa to be with her.  The sadness is so immense.  But I'm left thinking, well how can I honor and love her while she's still here?  (and keep my sanity at the same time dealing with my son's illness), and well, I just want to thank you for your sharing your tender, loving story.  I have always admired you, and have been a loyal NBC News watcher with my mother since I was a small girl.  Anyway, probably none of what I said made any sense.  But nonetheless, I want to thank you for sharing your story about your father.  I just admire you so much.   I pray to have equal grace and dignity while dealing with my own "life issues", hopefully laughing along the way.  

A loyal Arizona admirer (still crying),

Marilyn Johnson
Chandler Arizona

I just watched your poignant story on your Dad's last days and was deeply moved. I lost my husband a short time ago to the same insidious disease. He was a man much like your Dad. He wielded his sense of humor like a sword, cutting through fear and pain everywhere from our living room to the emergency room. Our family, like yours, chose to spend every minute we could with him. We took pictures. We told and retold his jokes from the cheezy to the inappropriate. We threw parties, the last just eight days before he died. His memorial was the grandest party of the year with great jazz, lots of good food, and the retelling of all his corny jokes.
Watching you, your Dad and your family validated the choices we made to learn to live from the one who was dying. Thank you, Ann. It took courage to give us such a gift in so public a setting. You enriched all of us who had the opportunity to experience your family's very private moments.

Hello Ms. Curry. I remember seeing the first story about your dad and all I could think was "Wow, what a great relationship they share".  When I watched your story this evening I was moved by how seemingly at peace he was to cross over. May we all enjoy such peace. He was very lucky to have you in his life, Ms. Curry...and you, him.    

Ann:

You are SO brave to let all this be on TV.  You have shared your live with others so they can relate and relive hopefully happy memories.

I ALWAYS enjoy your report especially from the Congo!  You are ONE of the BEST female reporters/anchors on air.  

Bests to you always!

Ann and all the NBC crew.  I can't express how much this story meant to me.  I missed the story on the evening news due to my work commute, but my husband was very touched by it and wanted to make sure I checked out the website to see if it was on the site.  I know this story was about your dad and I can only imagine your loss, but my husband is stage 4 lung cancer and is 54 in a couple of weeks.  We've been through 5 boughts of chemo and all the crazy stuff it brings and in the last week, he has finally decided enough is enough.  He is like your father and faces everything with a smile and a joke.  I just want to watch this piece over and over again to remind myself not to get bogged down in the sorrow now.  He will face this like your father - With humor, what is life without it, and strength for all he will leave behind.  Thank you so much for sharing this difficult time in your life.

ALOHA ANN....WHAT A WORK OF ART,A BEAUTIFUL STORY OF LOVE AND COURAGE!!I TOO LOST MY FATHER IN MARCH 2006 WITH THE SAME FORM OF CANCER,NEEDLESS TO SAY IT BROUGHT A FLOOD OF EMOTION AS I WATCHED,TEARS STREAMING ENDLESSLY DOWN MY FACE.MAHALO[THANK YOU]ANN,FOR YOUR WISDOM,EMPATHY,COMPASSION AND LOVING WAYS!!I WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN CLOSER TO MY DAD AS YOU WERE WITH YOURS...ALTHOUGH UNSPOKEN MANY TIMES,I KNOW WE BOTH HAD A DEEP LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER.TO EVERYONE READING THESE COMMENTS,WHO ARE FORTUNATE TO STILL HAVE YOUR PARENTS...IF YOU MUST BE THE "FIRST" TO SAY...I LOVE YOU DAD/MOM....DO IT NOW....ANN,GOD BLESS YOU AND COMFORT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY...WITH THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS......LEILANI....ALOHA'OE..."UNTIL WE MEET AGAIN".

Dear sweet Ann,
Hats off to you for having the courage to tell this story. As a reporter I'm sure this was hard. I understand your feeling of embarassment. But the message is an important one to tell. I'm watching my parents take care of my grandmothers, and the balancing act they face. I watched both my grandfathers pass on with dignity. It's a very hard lesson in life, to watch someone die with dignity, but an important one. You are by far the best journalist America has. Thank you for sharing a very painful and personal story about your family. Rest assured you're not alone in your grief. I cried when I saw your father's story tonight. I cried again when watching it online. I am sorry for your loss, but know he will always be with you in spirit, and in laughter. My grandpa was always telling funny jokes. He died eight years ago. To this day, I can still hear his voice, laughing at jokes and hillarious stoires about the simple things in life. As corny and as simple as they were, I tell those same stories to my kids. They never knew their great grandfather personally, but they do know his humor.
Blessings to you always.

Dear Ann,
So many poignant stories that others have already sent! Your story touched me so, not only as a woman who has already experienced the death of both of my parents 18 years ago, but as a Hospice nurse. I see on a daily basis the benefit people have from being open in talking about their illness & dying process and having Hospice support.
You and all of your family are so fortunate that you had the open dialogues that you did. Such special times, that you indeed will always remember and hold close to your heart!
Your parents were very special people as manifested by the daughter you are now and your children will benefit from the parent you are to them.
At a luncheon we had today to say good bye to our Hospice chaplain, someone mentioned a saying something to the affect of: "Come again, for when I am with you, I like the person I am."  I think I can see in you that you had that emotion towards your Dad and know that we as a viewing audience of yours, feel that way about you also.
Thank you for your courage to share your story with millions. Peace be with you and your family.

Ann,
Thank you so much for such a beautiful, touching story, I cried watching it just like most of the folks that have written.  You did a wonderful job and I know your dad was so proud of you.  I lost my daddy 3/28/08 unexpectedly in his sleep,but he lived a beautiful life much like your dad and we are so blessed to have had them in our lives long enough to realize how much they sacrificed for us growing up. You lost your dad on what would have been my dads 86th birthday.  I am sorry for your loss and pray you and your family find the peace and strength to carry on his legacy as I am trying to do with my family.  Wonderful clip, Ann-- thank you for sharing.

Ann, First let me say how sorry I am to hear of your dad's passing.  I lost my Dad the end of February, (Bill Holmes), and know how hard it is to be without them.  Since my father and yours held a small bond, I wanted you to know your father won't be forgotten, as we all have our memories.

Your story on the news was very poignant, and took a lot of courage.  Thanks for sharing.  My thoughts are with you and your family.

Thank you Ann Curry.
We now know one of the sources for your grace, humanity, joy for life and great warmth  we see each day on our television screens. Thank you for sharing such a personal story. I am sure that many  who have lost one or both parents like myself were taken back to wonderful memories of Mom and Dad because of your story. Thank you.

Seriously, NBC should stop airing news that only affects couple of people. I don't really care what Ann Curry went through or about her parents, not that it doesn't matter. Everyone have their own stories and hardships that they went through in their lifetime. Life is not meant to be easy. News time spend on those pointless subjects that does not affect most of Americans is waste of my time as well as others. What we need is more news story of events going on around the world or United States/Economy.  Hence, I strong suggest that NBC stop airing "trading places," and start doing what they were paid to do.  

Thank you, Ann, so much for allowing your private story of loss to be shared when asked.  As I realized when I lost my dad, no one teaches us how to lose our parents.  We will never forget the wonderful things about our parents.  Over time the loss hurts less and the good memories grow ever stronger.  Over the years I see more and more how much my parents have taught me, how much I emulate their way of life.  Thank you, Ann and thank you NBC News for telling the power story that is so personal to each one of us.

Ann-

To appreciate even fallen petals, This is 'Mononoaware.'

God Bless.

To appreciate even fallen petals, This is 'Mononoaware.'

Ann,
Your story was tender, honest,and meaningful to
anyone who loves deeply. Your Dad was fortunate
to be cherished. You were fortunate to have such
a parent and role model. Thanks for sharing.

Ann,

And when it is your time, the memories of your Mom and Dad, your family, and old friends both alive and dead  will bring comfort. Your heart will turn to some old, familiar place that you call "home." Then, just as your father said, the spirit will set sail to your real Home. Don't worry. God's goin' to let the faces you have grown to love welcome you with smiles, and laughter and jokes. I'm only sixty and love to joke. Some immortal day in the future I plan to greet my children and grandaughter with this: "What took you so long?"  . . . of course with tears of Heavenly joy too.

Truly every moment is very precious at time when your parents departed you!
I lost my Father more than 30 years ago but still those times I spent with him were the most cherished of my lifetime!  I wish time could have more generous for him to share the convenience inlife am having at this time!
Ann,watching your video brought tears in my eyes as I also recall the last time I have been with my Father!

Thank you for sharing!
Munotte ( this is what my Father calls me)

Ann,
This will be long so please sit and relax and savor in the fact that you have so much courage.  
As I watched NBC Nightly news last night Brian Williams introduced your story.  For me it was profound, having lost my father in 1989, suddenly, and my mother of cancer in 1993.  But while watching your story last night it was special because at my house were my in laws.  I had just returned from the doctor with my father in law who is at the end of life stage of heart and kidney failure.  Its amazing what we sacrifice for parents, and now in my instance after taking care of my mother, my father in law too.  
What you say is so true, about face time, and talking, and taking pictures, and writing things down.  And surprisingly enough what you said about what your daughter said about your father funeral.  One of my younger brothers said the same thing about my mothers funeral too.  I remember my mother being disagnosed with cancer almost immediately after my father passed away.  She chose NOT to have any form of therapy, and new that her days were numbered.  It however, was no means a death sentence to her.  She travelled by herself, reconnected with childhood friends, and got her house fixed up the way she always wanted it.  It wasn't until the last 6 months of her life when she became debilitated.  I moved in with her, and thank god for my supportive wife.  She died on a Saturday morning, and she sat up that morning and began to sink into a coma I wanted to make her comfortable.  The last thing my mother said as I tried to lay her back down was, "Bruce, leave me the hell alone".  That phrase typified my mothers life.  
My father in law has had heart problems for years and some lengthy hospital stays in this time.  I would camp out for days there, washing and shaving in the hospital bathroom and then going to work the next morning.  I have bathed my father in law, practically carried him into emergency rooms, and well w/o drawing this out too much, you can fill in the blanks.
Its ironic how we look at how we treat our parents, as the caretakers we are.  My younger brother passed away on November 2004, leaving three young daughters.  I consider myself their caretaker too.
As caretakers we don't look for the pat on the back, or any recognition at all.  We forsake our comfort to ensure the ones we are caring for have theirs.

Yes we are all ok, despite our exhaustion, and losses.
In doing so, we lay the foundation for intergrity in our children, hoping we never will have to call on them to take care of us.

So Ann, thank you for your story, and your courage.
Peace,
Bruce Cabana

Mrs. Curry,

Thank you for sharing your family's poignant story of your father's last illness and passing. I was unable to view the entire story during the broadcast due to the emotion it provoked. You are to be commended for your courage in sharing your story with us. I also commend NBC News for its Trading Places series, which has become some of the most moving and memorable viewing on television. Thank you for your contribution in reminding us of the important things in life.

Thank you for sharing.  I lost my PaPa to cancer over ten years ago.  Now my grandmother begins to show signs of her own ship turning.  As a family I feel we all must face it, laugh with it, enjoy the process and not dread it.  Yes Ann, you have shown others that it's OK to have a fear about death, but it does not have to be primary -- family, fun and togetherness.  I will take more pictures.  I must.

Anne,
Thank you so much for sharing this touching story...as I watched it memories of my father came flooding back as the tears flowed. I lost my Mom to a sudden heart attack at age 23 and then only months later we found out that my Dad had stage 4 cancer I lost him at age 27. He too was a funny, loving and open man who wanted to share what he was going through with all who knew him. He fought the fight with dignity, caring, and openness for all to see that he would fight all the way to the end of his battle. He too went over each detail of just how he wanted things at the end. We would not have been able to do everything he would have wanted without the help of Hospice. They truly were a blessing to our family. People say they understand what you are going through but unless they have been down that path with a loved one fighting and rejoicing in each step and moment they cannot truly understand what and how cancer touches each loved one be it family member or friend in their own way. Dad wanted a celebration of life at his funeral, and that is what it was. We shared stories, played his kind of music and did things just he way he wanted.  And in our hearts we knew that he was happy with the way that he fought and ended his battle! It is almost 10 years later and I miss them just as much today as I did the day that it happened. But I am thankful that I told him each day that I loved him and I knew he would always be with me.  
Someone once told me to look at each sunrise and sunset and I would see my loved one looking down and smiling upon me.  Take the time to look to the sky and you too will feel as if they are looking down on you.
Thank you again for sharing your story.  I have always enjoyed the way that you report the new, and this made me feel that much closer to you.  My prayers are with you and your family as you being the process of moving on without forgetting that special person…Your DAD!!

Ann,

I lost my 84 year old mother in December to small cell lung cancer less than 6 months after her diagnosis.  Although it's a terrible cancer, she insisted on fighting as hard as possible and denied any possibility that she might not succeed.  She finally had a massive stroke as a result of the cancer. I'm sorry that my Dad and all the family did not have the same mutual acceptance and closure that your family did.  Please continue to be appreciative for the decisions your family made towards acceptance--it gave you precious time to talk and share.

I trully understand Ann:

I watched the segment on your dad and I was very touched.. My dad was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer; Mylofibrosis (a form of leukemia) at the age of 79.. My family was shocked because he was always the rock of the family. As a african american family coming up we didn't know what being poor was, even though we were.. My parents always worked and provided for me and my other two siblings.  My dad also helped his two sisters raise their children.. My dad was a historian, but he was a blue collar worker.. We always used to tease him about he should of been a history professor, we learned a lot about history, black histroy, american history, not out of school books but from my dad... When I watched your segement your dad reminds me of mine.. Two strong men who loved their famailies.. The last month of my dads life he was in hospice care at home, he battled this disease for 11 months, and it was hard for us but he was like your dad still telling jokes to the end and worrying about the grandchildren, children, nieces, nephews, etc....My dad passed away January 6, 2007 he said: I want to celebrate life and a new year with the family before the takes me home...

God bless you and your family Ann

Ann,
Thank you for sharing your families special time with the nation.
I was in the right place at the right time watching the segment last night.
I shed tears at your story. That's something I could not do nine months ago when I was holding my moms' hand.

Your piece done on the life of your father brought me to tears as I knew it would. I lost both my parents within 5 months of each other and though it has been 4 years, it is still very difficult. There is not a day that I don't think of them. I did not get pictures at the last, and so wish I did. They both suffered so at the last, due to neglect of our healthcare systems in nursing homes. There is so much regret on my  part. I want you to know, that I am a big fan of yours and the piece you did on your father was so inspiring. You are so brave

Dear Ann,
Thank you for the heartrending story of your wonderful father and the difficult end of his life. Although I have never met him, nor you, I felt that I had through the touching depiction the video camera revealed. As I am reaching the one year anniversary of my father's own death (05/25/07) due to losing his battle against lung cancer, your story really touched home. I cried, loved the humor your father had as it was so much like my own father's, and had to call my mom. I'm nine months pregnant with my dad's first grandchild from his marriage to my mother, and your story brought a ton of feelings to the surface. Thank you again.

Ann-  the story was just wonderful and brought me to tears.  I am so sorry for your loss. I lost my mom 2 1/2 years ago when my daughter was 6 months old.  I miss her so much and tell my girl about her all the time.  You are right about documenting parents.  Just last week my sisters and I sat down with my dad and video-taped him discussing his service in WWII.  We'd always talked about doing that, and at 88 years old, I knew we might not have many opportunities.  We started thinking about it last year when we took him to the WWII Memorial in DC and it was like being with a rock star.  Everyone wanted to shake his hand  We learned much and loved hearing him talk for 2 solid hours.  

You, Brian Williams, Tom Brokaw, and Tim Russert have done much to show how precious our parents are and how much we can learn from them and each other.
We indeed are all in this life together and I thank you for showing that despite how different our lives are, we are much the same.  Bless you and your family.  

Eastmountainsouth sings a song called "Mark's song", it is what I listened to over and over again after I lost my father.  He was orphaned and raised by his oldest sister.  He went on to become successful in the plastics industry.  But he always wanted us to know the reason for his drive....family.  
My brother is a colonel in the air force.  My sister is a doctor.  My oldest brother is a principal and I am an autism specialist.  He supported each of us to find our way in this world.  He wanted us to choose a career we loved rather than love a paycheck.
My father vowed to see my daughter's first birthday.  She's named after him....and her life gave him the strength to fight cancer to spend more time with her. We faked birthdays so he could let go.
But he always knew.  The morning after Tori's first birthday...my father passed away.  He told awful saturday morning jokes...but as many times as he told them...we still laughed.  He surprised us with odd luxuries we never expected from a conservative man.  He was one of the few people who cared about the kids I worked with in a non-judgemental way.  He say the beauty inside of my autistic kids.  His skull had been removed for the back portion of his head (Ted Kennedy) and it had collapsed in a bit in order for tumor to be removed.  I told my students about this before Special Olympics so that they wouldn't be frightened of my dad's head.  Ben....
walked up to my dad at the games...shook his hand and look at the back of his head.  He waited a few moments and then said..."At least it wasn't the front of your face."  My dad laughed so hard....
and up until the day he passed away...you could hear him whisper at times...at least it isn't the front of your face.

Victor Ole Knutson.  I would have liked to have him longer in my life...but I am so thankful for the memories he left me.  He supported me 100% and that goes with me in every endeavor.

Thank you so much for sharing your story with us.  I lost both of my parents within the past six months, and I know how hard it is to watch them die.  We are having a family reunion this summer with all the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren here in the Rocky Mountains that my parents loved.  We will most certainly do lots of crying and laughing together (my dad also told lots of corny jokes) as we remember my wonderful parents.

Dear Ann,

I have always admired your spirit in watching you on Today through the years, but never more than now. I have lost both my parents, within 10 months of each other and I was with both of them when they passed. I can say that their final years were absolutely precious to me and it was when the situation was reversed and they really needed me, that I gained the most from all the time I was blessed in having with them. It has been 5 years since Daddy and 4 years since Mom passed away, and I believe you never get over this loss, you just learn to accept it. I still dissolve in tears at the most unexpected times. It's my prayer for you and your family that you take comfort in your memories and one another.

Ann,
Thank you for sharing your story...it couldn't have come at a better time.  I am 36 and my Dad was just diagnosed with inoperable pancreatic cancer with a dismal outlook.  Watching your story brought on a lot of emotions and made me think even more about how each day with my Dad is precious and that I need to take in every moment.  Your story has touched many and is appreciated.

Ann,

Both my parents died just four days apart in November.  

My dad was a larger than life, corny-joke sort of person as well.  I  held him in my arms when he died, one tear slidig down his cheek and he was gone.  

It's raw, real life stuff with all the senses involved.  I know how brave it was for you to open your wounds about this loss, and so appreciate knowing that this expected time of grief is something we can never prepare for--and that there are others going through the same thing.  Thank you so much for your courage.  Your father reminded me so much of my own.

Ann,
Hearing your story this morning stirred such emotion in me.  I lost my Daddy to cancer as well on December 16, 2004.  I cannot begin to tell you how parallel your story is with what I experienced - your very words have been mine as well...he taught me a lot about living, but he also taught me a lot about dying.  I have so much admiration for you in doing that for your Daddy.  I know he was a special man...God Bless You and all of your family - and thanks for sharing.

Hafa Adai and Aloha Ann,

Thank you for sharing your beautiful, heartfelt story with us; I can see and feel all the love you and your family have for your father. Funny how his "quirky" sense of humor will forever live in your memories.  My dad would make this funny little sound whenever he laughed; now, we hear it in the laughter of the grandkids and just laugh!  Papa must be smiling in heaven!

My dad passed away 7 years ago and i wasn't there to spend some time with him.  My husband retired from the Navy and we made Hawaii our home away from home (Guam).  When my mom called about my dad's passing, the first thing i asked was if he was afrad, afraid to die. She could only say "i think so."

For more than 12 years, my dad was a hemodialysis patient, managing to get himself up for the 3-4 hour treatment, then back to work for the Federal Government. Throughout the years I saw the look of saddness in his eyes whenever the grandkids and family were around. They loved him so much!  I'd tell him i love him and he would softly say, "I love you too" then hand the phone to my mom.

I love my dad and miss him so very much.  I'm an only daughter with 3 brothers and my dad was a man of few words; as i look back at the few times my dad gave me a heart to heart talk, i would forever cherish those them.

I would like for everyone to love and embrace each other.  And live each day like it were our last.  Cherish and respect our elders for they deserve it.

Much Aloha,
JoAnn Aquiningoc

Dear Ann, Thank you for such a courageous piece on the recent death of  your father. Your willingness to share  a personal insight into your private world at the time of great sadness demonstrated to me what I have always believed: you are one very classy lady,strong and resolute, yet empathetic and vulnerable. In my opinion, this segment was one of the most moving that I have seen on television that is too often devoid of authentic human emotions. My sincere condolences to you and your family.

While watching Anne Curry’s piece on her father’s last days, we were especially pleased to hear her recommendations concerning documenting one’s parents’ lives.  We have a small company in the Denver, CO area, which specializes in the creation of personal documentaries, especially of those with Alzheimer’s disease.  Obviously, this can be a difficult task, but we have found that through the extensive use of personal photographs and memorabilia, the memories come rushing back, even to those in the middle stages of the disease.  

We’ve tried very hard to get out the message regarding the urgency of this type of personal documentation, but have been frustrated by an apparent denial of its importance.  We understand that, when first confronted with a loved one’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, the creation of this type of record is not a “first concern”.  However, we are grateful for Ms. Curry’s noting its importance, and her bravery sharing her very personal story with your audience.

To this end, we offer not only our professional interviewing and filmmaking services, but also a willingness to speak with and offer free advice to anyone wishing to create their loved ones’ life stories, but who don’t necessarily know how to get started on their own.

We work with the local Alzheimer’s Association, who try to help us get the word out, and we were featured in a segment produced by our local NBC affiliate (KUSA, channel 9, Denver), but there is still a definite reluctance or perception of the need for this type of permanent record.  So we were very happy to see a story about this need presented on a national broadcast.

We hope that many people saw this story and will heed Ms. Curry’s advice to document their loved ones’ life stories and her father’s hope that this recommendation would help others. This is a comment we have heard many times from our own clients – they want their stories to be of help to others in similar circumstances.

If you would like to see what we do and what we would like to help others do please see our website: www.memoriesforthetelling.com

Ann,
How fitting that we saw the piece about your Dad so close to Memorial Day. He served his country well and had it not been for that service, we wouldn't have the gift of YOU. Your father had an inspiring spirit, and though it lives on in you now, you inherited it long before he died.

Dear Miss Curry, you are one of my best journalist and I am just writing to you for sharing your personal story with us. Thank you so very much, and god bless you and your family.

Dear Ms Curry, I wanted to tell you how much I admire you and praise you for airing such a beautiful story. I dont think I have cried like that since my father died seven years ago, June 21st.I sobbed because of your story and its so fresh for  you but my dad was so simuliar. Grumpy at times, but always had a corny joke. He was elegant and provided our family with beautiful memories especailly his death. I have a difficult time conveying this to people but it was the happiest death I had ever expierenced. He was strong. He was scared. He was ready.He was in so much pain, but ready to go to that next life. His wind changed and we were all there. It was the most beautiful gift. On a happy note, I am sure my dads jokes were cornier than yours. Ha Ha.
Thanking you for filling my living room with compassion and class.
Erin Montanarelli
Seattle, Wash

I lost my father as well when I was 18 so, I felt the need to extent condolences to Curry on that.  To her I can only say that one never deals with the loss of a parent, they simply move on because, it's all that can be done.  Again, condolences.

It is a shame, in my opinion, that you have to be"old school" to show the love and respect Ann Curry had for her father. What a beautiful and touching story.

Dear Ms. Curry.Your story about your father was very touching.  I was envious of the emotions you shared as I had nothing like that with my own father.  The pictures of your father were great and he really looked like a very, very nice man.  The one showing your mother with him in the hospital showed a true picture of love.  Thanks for sharing

Dear Ann,
Thank you for sharing your story. My dad is now on Hospice and I am caring for him as well as my mom who had a stroke 4 years ago. I cried  as I watched your well done story. Your strength has given me courage to face the days ahead. I know there are no words to express your loss but know that your story has helped me . God Bless and thanks.

Ann,

Everyday I worry about how I will find the courage to face the loss of my parents. I have replayed words I heard you say in an interview once, "when I lost my mom, I realized I didn't have anyone to bump us against anymore".  I'm not sure why those are the words that stuck with me, but I find them powerful so many times and see them as a metaphor for so many situations that I find myself in with my mother. Looking back it is her that I bumped up against for protection and to figure out just how I felt about issues and relationships. She is the one who keeps me in check even now as I have just turned fifty and she has just turned 80. Thank you for your insight and willingness to share the complexities of our relationship with our parents. The story of your Dad is a beautiful example of love and courage.  Your words do matter and they make a difference in my life.

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