Rebecca died at 11:00 last night. She peacefully stopped breathing while Yvonne was reading to her.
Rebecca had a massive GI bleed on Sunday night due to colon cancer with liver metastases, compounded by ITP (untreatable low platelet count in her blood). Her last two days were spent in the hospital. She was unable to speak clearly due to liver failure and pain medication, but we hope she heard our words of love and encouragement. During the day the room was full of friends and family. More later about memorial plans.
“I carry your heart. I carry it in my heart.”
Dear Josh, Jacob and Yvonne,
I am incredibly saddened for you. Rebecca was a wonderful friend and person. I know that she was a more than wonderful wife and mother. I guess I am too stunned to say more!.
Love,
Kathryn
We are so overwhelmingly sad. I feel so lucky to have known her, a truly good person.
I am so, so sorry.
Susan Wagoner
I am so very sorry.
Rebecca was a great mentor for me and her work has led to important and long-lasting improvements in the care that we provide to children.
You all are in my thoughts and prayers.
Alex
On behalf of the NC Pediatric Society’s Child Abuse Committee, we send you our deepest condolences. We all considered Rebecca to be not only a highly-respected colleague, but a very dear friend to all of us. We will miss her greatly.
Josh, Yvonne, and Jacob,
I offer my condolences. You have lost a wife and mother and all of us are poorer as she was also a great pediatrician and a great colleague. We will miss her but remember her fondly for years to come. I enjoyed our discussions and collaborations so much, and even our disagreements, as we tried to make sure that our medical services and our state programs were responsive to the needs of children. All of us will miss her.
My heart goes out to those of you closer to Rebecca than I–what a flash of light, energy, and curiosity about the world she was. There is less goodness in the world at this moment. May the rest of us work to make up for the loss.
Our girl, our friend, our colleague — how I miss you so!
Josh, Yvonne, Jacob- there are no words, only that we carry you in our heart, as we carry her. Anything I can do — let me know. Lisa A-J
We want to extend our heartfelt sympathy to all of the Shelines. This is a beautiful weblog depicting a lovely member of a wonderful family. You are in our thoughts and prayers during your time of deep sadness and loss….
With love,
Susan, Neal and Nathan
(cousins-in-law of Martin)
-My heart broke with the last news and tears and tears are pooring out. She allways made me experience love as she is doing now. Josh, Jacob and Yvonne – I want you to know you have a friend/aunt in Denmark. I hope to see you and connect with you in the future.
Love Paula
My prayers to you and your family. I am sorry for your loss.
Dear Josh, Jacob and Yvonne,
We have shed a lot of tears over the last few days & months, but I can not even image how this has impacted you now. Know that our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Let me know if there is anything I can do.
It is still incredibly hard to believe my baby sister is really gone.
I spoke with Becky just this last Saturday and she was so full of life, despite her shortness of breath.
When I spoke with her Monday afternoon Becky could still hear me tell her that I loved, her and I always would, but she could no longer speak clearly back to me.
Last night when I told her I loved her via video skype, she probably couldn’t hear me anymore, but it felt really good just to tell her anyway.
Ruby has always helped others in many practical ways — helping with the dishes as a 4 year old, cheering me up when I need it while growing up, remembering to send birthday and holiday wishes EVERY time for decades. Helping reduce child abuse for many.
Rebecca inspires me and many others to try and follow in her footsteps. One of many things I learned from Becky, was the courage to do the things that need to be done and not to waste time doing them. Becky lived more, and did more in her 51 years, than most of us do in a lifetime.
She has inspires me even now to start acting on my life’s “bucket list” faster and more courageously than ever.
While it breaks my heart to have to say goodbye to Becky, Ruby lives on in a very real way, not only in me, but in all of you and in all the people she touched so meaningfully in her 51 years with us. In a profound way Rebecca has achieved everlasting life, in a way that the rest of us can only aspire to.
Godspeed Becky, you have my love always.
Your Brother – Hans Eric Sheline
Josh, Yvonne and Jacob,
Maria and I are moved to tears at your all’s loss, at the world’s loss. If only those emotions could do more for you all than they do…It sounds like Rebecca moved on from the pains and limitations of this situation in a very loving, peaceful way, surely comforted by an unforgettably tender and loving mother and daughter moment…Be assured that you all have friends just a few miles away who are willing to help however we can. Please don’t hesitate to give us a call or drop an email if we can do anything.
A big, big hug,
Chris, Maria, Noah and Ezra,
Dear Josh, Jacob, and Yvonne,
I am sending lots of love and shared sadness, from cousin Irene
I am thinking of you, Rebecca’s family and all the extended family and friends of the Community Church. I was one of the many who followed along your path through the dedication of your friends who were there in this day to day journey with Rebecca and her family. She traveled so courageously and will be a role model for many of us to follow.
Words cannot express my thoughts for you at this moment but I send prayers of love and peace.
Dear Josh, Jacob, and Yvonne,
Ouyr hearts are with you. I am having trouble with my computer, but all of us who have known Becky will feel this loss.
Josh,
I heard today of your family’s loss. I worked with Rebecca during my time at UNC and learned so much from her. She was taken from you and your children too early. I am so sorry for your loss. She was a wonderful person and teacher. You and your children are in my thoughts.
My heart is breaking, but then I remember Becky’s smile and her laugh and the way she embraced life with every fiber of her being. My heart is still breaking, for all of you in this painful time. But it’s also full, remembering back to those days in Lloyd (I think it was suite 32?) when I could always count on Becky to make me laugh and convince me that somehow, things would end up working out okay. May all the great memories you have in your heart keep it full and help it heal. Love to all of you. CJ
Dear Uncle Ray, Sheline cousins, Josh, Jacob and Yvonne,
We are so sorry to hear of your loss.
Becky was pure and good. She was always happy, loving and upbeat. Those are qualities that will be always remembered. Her smile could light up the room and was contagious to those around her. With her personality it is no wonder she became a pediatrician. We will all miss her but her memory will live on in the lives and hearts of everyone who knew her. I feel privileged to have had her for my cousin.
Our hearts go out to comfort you is this difficult time. All our love to you all. Carmen
My thoughts are with your family. Rebecca has done so much for children and families in NC and I am better for having known her.
Josh, Jacob and Yvonne,
We Telford-Marxes offer our thanks for Rebecca’s life and our deepest sympathy and love to you all.
Dear Yvonne, Jacob, and Josh,
I am so sorry. Rebecca meant so much to me, both as a colleague and fellow parent. Carl and I send our love to your family.
Brooke Church (Carl Kolosna’s mom)
Josh and family,
All of us in choir learned of this last night and we sang with heavy hearts, and many good memories of Rebecca there with us. We will be there to support you during this challenging time. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
Mia
Josh and family – We are so saddened at the news of losing Rebecca. While we’ve not often managed to span the gap between Philly and NC, I’m truly lucky that Rebecca and I had our lives intersect in ways beyond the fact that she became one of the dozen plus Socolars in the world.
My junior year at Haverford, my life revolved around Erdman Hall, and I remember getting to know and appreciate Rebecca as a friend to sit with in the dining hall, a Bryn Mawr freshperson with a remarkable poise and ability to put you at ease, someone with interesting life stories, consistent good humor, and a shared passion about injustice in the world. Several years later, we crossed paths with each other somewhat regularly when we both worked at CHOP – my memories are of how we sometimes would grab a few minutes to catch up on each other’s life, work, and hopes … of her warm smile – brighter than the vivid green scrubs – and her sense of compassion that always was there, however little she may have slept in the previous 24 hours. No one could mistake that she was really a special person – I can’t imagine how deeply she will be missed …
Love and hugs from Paul, from Sukey, Elena and Robin
and from the NY Socolars
Scott and I send our love and sympathy to the Sheline and Socolar families at this most difficult time. Becky’s smile, enthusiasm for life and love of her family and friends is too brilliant to ever be truly extinguished. She lives on in all our hearts.
Becky is gone too soon. All my love to her family.
Dear Josh, Jacob, and Yvonne,
I am so sorry–this is so incredibly sad. Rebecca was one of the most loving and delightful people I ever met, and we will all miss her. The world will always be a warmer place because of her and all the people she touched.
All our love,
Dave and Lisbeth
Dear Josh, Jacob, and Yvonne,
We are so sorry for your loss, and ours. Rebecca was a wonderful person and made the world a better place. Your courage, and hers, is an inspiration to us and a tribute to her. We miss her more than we can say.
Love, and gratitude, and condolences,
Laura and Billy
Rebecca seemed to me such a lovely, inspiring person; highly intelligent but plainspoken. I’m so sad for each of you, Josh, Yvonne, and Jacob, plus the rest of her family and friends. You are being held in many hearts. Joel and I are saddened for you and sad for this huge loss.
Karen and Joel Kingsolver
Dear Josh and Family,
I was saddened to hear of the passing of your beloved wife. Please know that all of your friends on Academic Council at Duke are keeping you and your family in our prayers and our thoughts.
Fondly,
Paula
Dear Josh and family, I was saddened to receive your email about Rebecca. I have known her since our residency days together at CHOP, and always loved seeing her at meetings over the years. She was wonderful. My thoughts are with you. Cindy
Dear Josh, Jacob, and Yvonne,
I am so, so sorry for your loss.
I’m sure that you are aware that Rebecca touched many lives. Here are just a few of the ways in which she influenced mine for the better:
As a continuity clinic preceptor, she taught me the value of spending time listening to families, and her calm demeanor served as the perfect model for counseling them.
As a child abuse pediatrician, she inspired me to pursue this challenging but so very rewarding line of work.
As a clinician researcher, she showed me that combining the two was possible as well as rewarding, and that a mother could do so and still have time for family.
Most importantly, as a mentor, she taught me to make choices based on what’s most important in life – family and friends, and that career and all the rest would somehow find a way to fall into place.
My heart goes out to you.
Wendy Lane
UNC Pediatrics Resident 95-99
Fellow Helferite
I know I speak for the entire CHOP family when I express my deep sense of loss of this great pediatrician and person. I think of her days of training and of the bright flame that burned within her and ignited those around her. Her work on behalf of children was exceptional and she will be missed. In recent years seeing her a national meetings and reading her publication always evoked a sense a pride that she was part of our professional family. My deepest sympathies to the entire family
Dear Josh, Jacob and Yvonne,
Susan and I are so, so sorry. We went through much the same thing with Susan’s sister just two and a half years ago and we know only too well how unbelievably difficult it must have been at the end.
If there is anything at all I can do for you to help you out, please let me know. I already told Dan that I’d be happy to help out with any teaching or other duties you might have if you need time to just be with the kids and recover.
I know that nothing we do or say can fill the empty place that Rebecca leaves; only time can make the memory of the pain slowly become less sharp so that you truly can remember only the best of times and not the worst. We still have bad days and good days remembering Mimi. But eventually the good memories do win, and I think Rebecca would very much have wanted, would want that.
Your friends,
Rob and Sue
I was very sad to hear of Becky’s untimely passing. She was my Customs person as a freshman at Haverford, and though I haven’t seen or spoken to her since college, I remember her well, and she is part of some wonderful college memories for me.
My daughter is now a freshman at Haverford, and hopes to be a Customs person herself next year. I would hope that she is able to do even close to as good a job as Becky did for me and my fellow freshmen in 1976.
Godspeed Becky, and my deepest condolences to her family and to those fortunate enough to have been close to her.
Tim Hooper
I’m awfully sorry to hear of your loss. Becky was delightful. My thoughts are with you, Josh.
Even though I only barely knew Becky for two short years in high school, she was a shining light, a beacon with a big smile and full of grace. I am sorry to miss her memorial. Sorry I didn’t get to know her better, during and after high school, and very sorry that I did not get to visit her before or during all of these difficult times. I remember once she wore some kind of neck brace, I don’t know why, in high school, but her smile made you think she was on top of the world. I knew she was on top of the world. She walked with such enthusiasm and walked tall, full of goodness. I am lucky I was able to email her in the last few months, tell her how impressed I was with her and that I looked up to her as a role model. I heard back from her and she was so sweet to respond. How much that has helped me now. From reading her blog she fought such a tough battle and it was heartbreaking to hear this. God bless all of her family and friends. She is in a place with no pain now. I am sure she will be smiling down on us with her great smile (and I still remember it from 34 years ago).
Josh, Yvonne and Jacob:
I didn’t know Rebecca really, we met once or twice. But I grew up with Josh and Serge in Maryland and I know from Josh’s parents – who are so dear to my parents and me – how wonderful Rebecca was and what a spectacular family you are.
I’m so very sorry for your loss and I just want you to know that I am thinking of you in this very difficult time, as are the rest of my family, and wishing you so much strength, love, kindness and hope in the days ahead.
Nancie