“No one is really alone; those who live no more echo still within our thoughts and words, and what they did is part of what we have become.” -"The Blessing of Memory," Meditations before Kaddish

God called Amy Niedringhaus Johnson home on January 11, 2023. Our brave and beautiful friend lost her fight against congenital heart disease (CHD) at 43 years old after experiencing severe complications following her eighth open heart surgery, nearly 13 months post-op from a heart transplant. Amy’s heart surgeon recently told her husband, Mark, that she was “Top 2” of the strongest humans he’s witnessed in his lifetime. That was Amy.

She was beautiful and demure, yet fierce to the core with an unwavering faith - even in her final days. Her most recent surgery was both complex and risky, but she wanted nothing more than to keep living for her family and watch her daughter, Sofia, become the bold woman she’s destined to be. She chose and respected the gift of life, the gift of each day, even in the scariest and most uncertain moments. She unequivocally proved, time and time again, the absoluteness of one’s strength, endurance and patience. Amy was, in a word, incredible. Mark named her Super-Mom because she was, in fact, extraordinary. Defying all the odds, she persevered to build a life with meaning that included service to her Lord and others. Over the Johnson family dining room entryway, a stenciled inscription reads, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

Naturally, Amy’s calling was a special one. She trained and worked as a NICU nurse for nearly two decades. Her Cardinal Glennon colleague and friend recently shared the admiration she had for Amy and the innate calmness she exuded when stakes were high on the NICU floor often putting her fellow team of medical care professionals at ease with her subtle command of any emergency situation. Undoubtedly, her greatest joy and fulfillment was becoming a wife and mother. Mark, Sofia and Winnie, their German Shepard, were her greatest pillars of strength. Her love for ALL her loved ones was the fuel for her to overcome even the toughest obstacles. Her remarkable life reminds us not to take our days for granted. To be present. To be kind. To love hard. To never give up. To make a difference. Amy showed us all of those things.

While her friends and loved ones are comforted knowing that Amy has found eternal rest and peace with her Savior, it doesn’t take away the tremendous loss felt by the Johnson and Niedringhaus families and the road they have ahead of them. Over the last few years, so many people have asked how they could help, in which the Johnsons always replied, “With prayers.” Knowing that Mark has had to take extended medical leaves and the families had to seek a second residence in Nashville for more than half of the year, we’re hoping to honor Amy’s memory and support the Johnson/Niedringhaus families so they can focus on healing. By raising funds, we can help offset the ascending expenses and contribute for future needs:

-Medical bills

-Funeral costs

-Travel costs and credit card bills

-Apartment rental

-Cleaning services

-Insta-groceries and ready-made meals

-Education fund for Sofia

It is in these times of loss and sadness that it’s most important to come together to help one another. We’re thankful for any support you may be able to provide.