The Stacie Lewis Memorial Fund

Stacie Lewis passed away after a long and valiant struggle with leukemia on April 14, 2017. She is lovingly remembered by her husband Gareth Griffiths; her two young children, May and Ieuan;  her mother Barbara and her husband Ed; her father Jerry and his wife Ellen; her sister Carrie and husband Chad; nephew Connor and niece Caylee; and her step-siblings Tony and Chloe.

Stacie was a talented writer, a passionate advocate, a loving wife, mother, daughter, sister, aunt and so much more to her family and friends. From Tigers games with dad to play time with nephew Connor and niece Caylee, the special bond she shared with her family spanned the Atlantic Ocean and touched all who knew and loved her.

Stacie is also remembered by the thousands who read her blog Mama Lewis and her many heartfelt pieces in The New York Times, The Guardian and The Independent. She wrote honestly about both the challenges and the true joys of raising her daughter May, who was born with severe brain damage. To honor her memory, Stacie's family and close family friends are establishing the Stacie Lewis Memorial Fund to provide for the well-being and education of her children. We hope you'll help us honor Stacie's legacy by giving what you can to the fund.

All funds raised will be deposited into an account solely dedicated to covering the educational and health-related costs for Stacie's two surviving children, May and Ieuan.

Photo: Stacie with her father Jerry Lewis

Photo: Stacie with her husband Gareth and children Ieuan
and May, in their London apartment (via BabyCenter)

Photo: Cuddle with Stacie, Connor, Ieuan, and Caylee.

Photo: Stacie and Gareth with sister Carrie and Chad
 in Ypsilanti, Michigan.

Photo: Shopping and lunch at Laurel Park mall with Stacie, her dad, and Ellen.

Photo: Stacie and her sister Carrie.

Here are just a few memorable things Stacie taught us in her lifetime:

When May shrieks with joy and giggles, as her mama, I don't blink back bittersweet tears and think: "Ah, bless. She is so disabled and yet so happy. Isn't she sweet despite everything?" No. I struggle to hold the camera straight because I am bending over with belly laughs myself.

This is what parenting a special needs child is like. This is what parenting any child is like. Ignore the rough patches for the moment. May is a little girl. She likes to sing and dance with her father just like every other little girl in the world does.
– Stacie, 'The joy of parenting a special needs child caught on video'

My aspirations for May have changed. Maybe ridiculously, I still hope she will achieve some of the things I imagined for her a year ago. I'd love her to go to school, have a job, get married. I suppose the big change is that I don't expect her to do anything anymore; I hope she does. And, I treasure each new accomplishment of hers. However small, for us they are stupendous.
– Stacie, interviewed by The Independent at her daughter May's first birthday party

Almost all the little girls I know want to be ballerinas and almost all the little girls I know will never be professional ballerinas, but that doesn't stop them from joining dance studios in droves. Why should it stop a child with disabilities?
– Stacie in her last blog post on MamaLewis.com, 'I keep watching these videos and they make me cry '

Listen out for one of those new sounds, right at the end. A sort of high-pitched squeal she makes when she is ridiculously happy. And even though, as you can hear, she has a cold, she is still the happiest ladybug I have ever seen.
– Stacie describing May playing with her father (see video below)


Quotes about Stacie and her work:

Her voice led to changes that will help make the lives of disabled families easier for years to come.
– BabyCenter, 'Saying Goodbye to One of Our Own '

Sometimes determined, articulate people manage to win small victories on behalf of everyone.
– Winifred Robinson, BBC Radio 4's You and Yours

So, in remembering what Stacie herself wrote, “I kept my son home from school and we went into London to buy chocolate chip cookies as big as our face. The world is a beautiful place. Hug your kids and eat more ice cream. That’s an order.” I, along with my other wonderful co-workers, are doing what Stacie asked of us.

We are holding our children tight and treating them to copious amounts of undeserved sweets, for you, Stacie.
– Whitney Barthel, BabyCenter, after learning of Stacie's passing in 'Why BabyCenter bloggers took the cookie-as-big-as-your-face challenge'

Cover Photo: Susannah Ireland