Cindy Neveu

On March 14th, 2007 Cindy Neveu died after a brave battle with liver cancer.  She was 40 years old and lived in Oakland, California.  Cindy sent me this photograph shortly after her very special 40th birthday celebration. 

Cindy had TM for 16 years; she also had hemophilia factor-I, HIV, Hepatitis-C, she had suffered a stroke, and finally died from liver cancer. 

Shortly after Cindy died, I received a letter from her good friend, Charlotte Cook. 

I always think that the real Cindy was the one who could find and articulate the irony she found everywhere ... you know, her humor.  When I first knew her, she would say these very odd ... even daffy ... funny things to me.  I always felt like she wasn’t really talking to me ... that there was someone else in the conversation who really “got it.”  Then one day I “got it” and realized that she was developing in me a brighter, less serious person.  It’s a toss-up whether people think I’m intense and focused or delighted and delightful.  I try to keep people around me who foster the latter, though it is the former that helps me get my work accomplished.  But with Cindy ... she always played to the latter as if that was the only Charlotte there was.

To me that’s the real Cindy.

Pauline and I met Cindy in Seattle in 1999.  The meeting in Seattle was quite amazing as this was the first time we had brought together a large group of people who had TM.  It was great spending time with her.  Cindy came to the symposium in Baltimore in 2001.  When the symposium was completed we met Cindy at the airport afterward and we had a chance to share dinner before our flights.  Over the years I was in regular contact with Cindy. 

In all of our conversations, I never once heard Cindy complain about anything!  I was very aware of Cindy’s very complex and difficult medical issues.  None of these health issues defined Cindy in the least.  Cindy was such an incredibly positive spirit and such a remarkable human being.  Cindy touched so many people’s lives; my heart just aches for her loss. 

Cindy sent me a pen that she gave to all of her guests at her 40th birthday celebration.  The inscription on the pen reads, Bloom where you are planted.

For 40 years, Cindy did just that; and all who knew her and were touched by her wonderful life are in awe and rejoice in every glorious bloom.

Our memories of Cindy should serve as a blessing for all of us.