Eulogy

As Lisa grew, her parents love for her grew even more. They gave her many kisses and told her often "I love you." One day, Sherrie was folding diapers on the sofa, when eighteen month old Lisa crawled up on the sofa, came up to her mother and kissed her on the cheek saying "I love you". That was Lisa's first sentence.

Lisa always stayed close to her parents or held their hand when shopping at the mall. One day, the family walked in to J.C. Penny's and Lisa, who was around three years old, stopped to look at some stuffed yellow dogs with big floppy brown ears known as 'Henry' dogs. She really loved them. During the next Penny's trip a few days later, Lisa slipped away from her parents when they weren't looking. She had never before taken off from her parents care like that. After looking for about five minutes, Don and Sherrie didn't know what to do. Then God reminded Sherrie how much Lisa loved those Henry dogs. Sure enough there Lisa stood hugging one of those dogs as happy as a lark. Needless to say, that dog went home with the Sumner family that night.

Lisa always seemed like a quiet little person. She didn't talk a lot or get into a lot of trouble. She was just a pretty good kid. One day, Sherrie was looking for something she had lost. For some reason Sherrie decided to look under Lisa's bed, even though a kid's bed can be a scary place to explore. Sherrie was sure surprised to find an open jar of peanut butter which had been eaten with little fingers along with some half eaten Pop Tarts. Sherrie and Don had no idea how Lisa had gotten the food out of the cupboard or when she could have done it being a mere four years of age.

One day, Sherrie heard Lisa calling "Mommy, Mommy". Her voice didn't sound afraid, yet had a strange echo to it. Sherrie couldn't find her. Where could she be? Finally, as Sherri was walking through the hall passing the washer and dryer, she noticed the dryer door was open just a little and she started to shut it without much thought. Then Sherrie remembered Lisa's voice and how it had echoed. Sherrie opened the door and there sat Lisa smiling up at her Mom. Mother and daughter then had a talk about how the dryer was not a good place to play.

Lisa was always friendly with most everyone and considered all to be her friends. In the 5th grade, a girl discovered she had lost her mittens, so Lisa and another friend walked her back to her home looking for them. Then all three had to run all the way back to school hoping they wouldn't be late.

Although the Sumner's only lived in Iowa for a short time, they often returned for holiday visits. Lisa became very close to her cousins. During her youth, the family lived in six other states, but down deep in her heart, Iowa was home. That feeling would not change until she wed and made Wichita, Kansas the home of her heart.

Lisa enjoyed a wide variety of mental and physical recreation. From reading "Mandy" books to researching on the Internet, she always sought to learn new things daily. She loved making counted cross stitch gifts for friends and family members.

In August of 1989, Lisa met her future husband Vincent Hancock at Camp Quaker Haven in Arkansas City, Kansas. Heidi Willis (now Pohlman) introduced Vince to Lisa on a canoe trip. Even though Vince had been a Boy Scout, he managed to steer their canoe over some driftwood in a shallow part of the Arkansas River. They both ended up soaking wet and it is the only time Vince ever recalls her being upset with him.

Also while at camp, they each learned to play 'cow', an ancient strategy game that involves sowing seeds onto the game board. This mutual love of games and puzzles would play an important role later in their relationship.

In 1993, Lisa transferred her educational pursuits from Barclay College in Haviland, Kansas to Friends University in Wichita where she would later graduate with an Associates Degree in Business Administration. This would mark the second time God would bring the future couple together. Lisa's new roommate DeAnna Thien and Vince were already members of the Concert Choir when Lisa transferred to Friends, so it didn't take long to convice her to join the Choir. Vince and Lisa shared several business courses and got to know each other better while working in the Computer Labs.

The three "Quaker kids": Lisa, Vince, and his roommate Robin Young, would carpool in Vince's 1962 Chevy Bel Air to Northridge Friends to attend Sunday School and morning worship. Once, while waiting for her next class, Lisa overheard the Greek class studying their vocabulary lessons.

In Lisa's own words,

They usually ended by shouting "Doxi! Glory!" I liked the sound of the word and when I found out your car didn't have a name, I dubbed it "Doxi." Partially to tease you, saying it was a "Glory" that it ran. ;-) I've always liked your car, it suits you. Both of us are old fashioned.

Another member of the Concert Choir was recording artist Rich Mullins. When he was killed in an auto accident in 1997, Vince knew that Rich's death was not publicized widely outside of Kansas. Vince took the initiative to locate and notify Lisa himself. That tragedy became the catalyst for the old friends to reestablish contact and catching up through phone calls and via e-mail.

On June 21, 1999, Lisa moved from Buffalo Gap, Texas to Wichita. While Vince simply thought he was extending a job opening to a recently laid-off friend, Lisa knew the friendship was deepening into something more.

While working together at the 'clean' Internet Service Provider, they quickly realized their many similarities. From tastes in Christian a cappella music to pasta, they grew to be soul mates. On a long late night phone call exactly one month after Lisa moved, they were first able to tell each other "I love you." They then decided to start courting. In October of that year, Vince gave Lisa his purity ring as a promise ring.

Their bond would grew even stronger over time, evidenced by such things as the many times they would accidentally say words and thoughts in unison. They later came to call this "as always being on the same page." To honor their college days, Vince set the scene for their "First Kiss" to take place under the moonlight while parked at Friends University in 'Doxi'.

On July 9, 2000, Lisa and Vince drove down to Camp Quaker Haven for Area Rally. While waiting for the evening service, they played several games of 'cow'. In one game, when it was Vince's turn, he 'made his move' by dropping her engagement ring onto the game board.

Before Lisa had come to Wichita, Vincent had regularly babysat the four children of Mike and Flo Harvey. As Lisa came to join him, the kids came to love her as much as he did. Imagine the look on Lisa and Vince's faces when they heard that the fifth child was on the way! Lisa's love for young children continued by serving in the Northridge nurseries when they were short on help.

On June 30, 2001 Lisa and Vince were married during a traditional Quaker Wedding service at Northridge. Both Vince and Lisa deeply cherished their Quaker heritage and strongly agreed with the simplicity of the Quaker traditions, both in faith and in deed. Her Grandma Sumner and Aunt Donna made a flattering, yet simple dress. Her cousins from Iowa assisted with hair and make-up for the wedding.

Even while courting, Lisa and Vince studied to be the most Godly mates possible for each other. They enjoyed participating in several marriage and family Bible studies with other Northridge couples. Vince feels that she was truly a "Wife of Noble Character".

Quoting Proverbs ch. 31, verses 11,12, 29 and 30:

"Her husband has full confidence in her and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life. Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all. Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who has a good relationship with the Lord is to be praised."

Lisa's passing was so quick and her time here seems too short. Those who loved Lisa will miss her terribly but know that God's hand was in her life clear up until she went to live with the Lord in heaven. How the doctors were able to quickly diagnose her; how she had worked with the lady who would administer her blood exchange; how she would acknowledge the presence of her grandmother. Truly while it is still a mystery to all of us it is certain God had a plan.

When Lisa was college age, she started buying angels for her parents Christmas tree because her mom was collecting them. But this past Christmas, she did something different, she gave them an angel that stands on a table instead of hanging from the tree. Her parents are not sure why she changed, but God had a plan.

When they arrived home from Wichita after telling Lisa goodbye for the last time, The pictures on their fireplace mantle were too much for them at that time. As Sherrie looked for something to put in their place, there was Lisa's angel. It had majestic wings, in a robe of pink and blue which were Lisa and Sherries favorite colors. The angel was smiling down on a dove in her hands. From now on, when they look at it, it will remind them that Lisa is at peace, happy, and with the Lord.

While her joyful spirit will be greatly missed here on earth, we can draw comfort in knowing that her same peace is available for us as well, because God offers the peace that passes our earthly understanding.

Thank you Jesus.

Medical Synopsis

• TTP article at Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
• The TTP Support Network outlines the basics.
• The TTP-HUS home page details what the medical community knows so far.
• TTP Defined in the NIH Medical Encyclopedia.
• Project Red Flag: Real Talk About Women's Bleeding Disorders.
• An autopsy summary will be included here once provided.