Beckey Ann Miller 06/26/87 – 11/18/14
Sometimes you have to get knocked down lower than you have ever been, to stand back up taller than you ever were.
Unknown
By Kaitlyn Ash, Live For Today Co-Founder
This quote speaks to me in many ways. As I sit back and reflect on the life of my dear friend Beckey, I can’t help but to cry and laugh all at the same time. While this quote most certainly reflects the emotional and mental fight she faced, it most certainly was not a physical representation of my dear friend. Beckey, who stood at just 4 feet 10 inches, always made sure her big personality made up for what she lacked in height.
Loud and feisty Beckey always liked to be right. Always truthful in her words, you could always count on an honest opinion from her. Beckey had so much love for her friends and family. She was a friend like no other. She taught her friends how to stand up for themselves, and how to get back up after getting kicked down. More importantly she taught her friends the value of friendship and what it means to accept and love your friends for who they are.
Beckey loved the beach and being outdoors. She loved spontaneous adventures and being around the people that she cared about the most. Riding beach cruisers in the summer time is definitely one of my favorite memories we shared. She loved to shop and get dressed up for a night out, but flip flops and shorts were a staple most days. She loved elephants and the phrase ‘an elephant never forgets’. Beckey loved Savannah and it was one of the places she often visited. Every summer for many years Beckey traveled with her closest friends to celebrate her birthday in her favorite place.
Beckey had so many people in her life that cared and loved her. Her boyfriend and best friend Brandon was her rock. He cared for her while she was sick with such incredible compassion. She had so much love for Brandon. She often talked about how grateful she was for him. She loved spending time at home with him and their dogs Lexi and Chewy.
As time went on and Beckey got sicker and sicker, her friends and family wanted to do something special for her. Just weeks before Beckey passed her friends and family surprised her with a flash mob dance, right outside in her back yard. There were flowers and tears, laughter and cheers. Together, nearly 50 people – who were filled with love for Beckey – danced and sang along.
After the Flash mob was over I was able to present Beckey and Brandon a gift basket from Live for Today. It was filled with slippers, the softest blanket, some other small goodies, and nearly a dozen gift cards to some of their favorite places. She was surprised and so happy to see everyone all together for her. Her parents, best friends, old friends, family, old co-workers, the list goes on. She spent the afternoon sharing hugs and stories with so many people that loved her. Beckey went on to enjoy a steak dinner that night go to sleep with her heart full after seeing so many loved ones that day.
When Todd, Katie, and I started Live for Today we had a mission to help young adults with cancer. Each one of us has faced cancer and understand what it’s like to go through it. Knowing that millions of people survive cancer every year gives us so much hope for bright futures for our members. However the reality is that not everyone will survive. With life comes death and sometimes life takes some of the most precious people away from us far too soon. At just 27 years old Beckey was taken from us. Far too young, but the impact my pocket sized friend made on us will never be forgotten.
I was blessed to be one of Beckey’s closest friends. When Beckey got her diagnosis of cancer last winter, we were all in shock. She stood tall and strong in the face of a terrifying diagnosis. Her positive attitude and strength helped give all of us a little hope. Beckey continued to fight and stay strong up until the last moments of her life. She never wanted to be defeated by cancer. She never gave up. She was brave and fearless and to many of us she will always be our hero. Cancer may have taken away our fearless friend but her legacy will forever live on. This March, her best friends will run the Gate river run in her honor and get elephant tattoos in her memory. We know that Beckey is in paradise now standing taller than she has ever been. We love and miss you Beckey. Until we meet again.
