19-year-old shared her happiness, even to the last day
A Jackson Township teen overcame challenges to show people how to be happy.
This was demonstrated by the large number of people who attended the funeral service for Emma Grace Weaver, 19, who died suddenly June 18.
“People stood in line for two hours to talk to me for four seconds to tell me how much they loved my baby,” said Amy Marcinkiewicz, Emma's mother. “It was just so awesome.”
Marcinkiewicz said she was thankful to all who attended and those who sent messages because they couldn't make it. She said some described viewing Emma's social media posts as the best part of their day.
“I got messages from people in Pittsburgh, all over the country and all over the world,” Marcinkiewicz said. “I'm proud of her.”
Emma had global developmental delay that never was pinned down with a precise diagnosis. She was nonverbal and also struggled with epilepsy and cerebral palsy.
“This kid, without ever saying a word, touched so many people,” said Marcinkiewicz said.
Marcinkiewicz said the last day of Emma's life was one of her happiest.“She woke up, she swam, she ate her favorite food,” Marcinkiewicz said. “The last day of her life was the best day ever.”Marcinkiewicz said Emma broke those boundaries daily.She recently began walking on her own, despite needing either a guiding hand or a walker's assistance in the past.In the pool, she swam without the help of a flotation device. In her obituary, she was described as a mermaid, moving freely through water.“The pool gave Emma mobility and independence,” the obituary said.Emma even recently broke the language barrier no one thought was possible with one simple yet monumental word, “mom.”Marcinkiewicz said her family pushed and encouraged Emma, and Emma responded with the same energy.“She pushed through,” Marcinkiewicz said. “She defied the odds.”Emma's many triumphs are documented, sometimes in photographs, others via videos and often alongside her mother, her father, Bradley Weaver, and her sister, Tess Weaver.
From early in Emma's life until her death, Marcinkiewicz said Emma and her family were aware that “normal” would never describe them.Emma needed constant assistance, whether with her family at home, teachers at school or during her many camps and extracurricular activities.While her limitations could and would be broken, they existed most days, and were accompanied by pain and other unpleasantness, according to Marcinkiewicz.Emma's first word aside, she often had to communicate with a special device that allowed her eye movement to translate into words.Although it was nontraditional, Emma had to learn to use the device to “lovingly curse” at her older sister, to tell her parents what she wanted or to tell her family she loved them.Marcinkiewicz said despite it all, Emma found a reason to find happiness every day.“Was her life hard? Yeah, it was hard. She was just happy,” Marcinkiewicz said. “She would wake up giggling and laughing. You just wish someone could live like that.”
Emma's happiness was what drew people to her, Marcinkiewicz said.Emma played baseball in the Miracle League of Southwestern Pennsylvania for seven years, and according to Mike Sherry, president of the regional league, she relished the moments she was on the field.“Emma loved it. Emma loved the spotlight,” Sherry said. “Emma had a very large personality. She was very outgoing. She certainly wanted to make sure people on the field and in the stands (knew) that her presence was there.”Emma played for the Pirates, and she soon will be added to the list of names on a memorial statue near the rubberized baseball field. The statue is dedicated to players who have lost their lives.“Emma's presence will always be part of the Miracle League,” Sherry said. “She will always be part of our Miracle League family.”Marcinkiewicz said her daughter's moments in Miracle League and other facets of her life were shared on an Instagram account that also gained a lot of attention. She said people all over the world got to see Emma's persistence and spirit.“They saw her joy, her motivation,” Marcinkiewicz said.Peggy O'Connor, who found Emma through Instagram, paid tribute in a guest book signature Friday.“What an awesome young lady, and you will be surely missed,” O'Connor wrote. “Thank you for always brightening my day with your posts, videos and beautiful smile.”
Marcinkiewicz said a missing presence looms over her family in the absence of Emma Grace Weaver.She said Emma had been doing so well until her death that its sudden arrival stunned them all.“It just doesn't seem real,” she said. “I want to be in sorrow and shock.”Marcinkiewicz said she will follow the lessons she learned from Emma. She will move forward.“She woke up every day and tried her best,” Marcinkiewicz said. “I will plow through this and persevere for her and her memory because she never quit, and I will never quit.”Marcinkiewicz said she encourages everyone who knows and remembers Emma to follow in these steps. She said people should look through the eyes of children like Emma: to be kind to one another and cherish each moment life has to offer.“They are perfection in an imperfect world,” Marcinkiewicz said. “I will never forget her. She is my life.”
