Ryan's Star on the ceiling in the castle at Give Kids the World Village in Florida

PLEASE VISIT THE RYAN LAMANTIA FOUNDATION AT 
WWW.RYANLF.ORG

Imagine


Imagine having everything you ever wanted in a family,
Imagine having fun, laughter and love in your heart,
Imagine everthing you live for is for your family,
Now, imagine if this ended just with a flash of your eyes,
Imagine your heart, your laughter and your smiles gone,
Imagine living in this world without the ones's you love the most,
Imagine something made from a miracle, get taken away too soon,
Imagine the mother, the father, the sister and the friends,
Imagine trying to cope with this emptiness,
Imagine life that does not seem there is no meaning in your heart,
Imagine your soul being ripped and torn into pieces with an unbearable loss and pain,
Just imagine, because for me this is all real,


There is no imagine this,
There is no imagine this,
I face this reality everyday for the rest of my human life,
Like a nightmare that you can't wake up from,
Like a wound that cannot heal or close,
Like a pain that is so unbearable it keeps on hurting,
Imagine yes I can
For this is my life now and for all eternity





                                          








On the day God took you
I thought that I would die
I wondered where the time went?
I asked alot of whys??
With people all around me
I felt alone inside
From all their words of comfort,
I couldn't seem to hide,
I thought I might be dreaming
That I'd wake and find you here,
I thought "This can't be happening."
As I wiped another tear.
On the day that you were laid to rest
My heart broke yet again,
I wondered if the pain would end,
But mostly, I wondered when??
It's hard to be without you,
At times the days seem long,
Sometimes I just sit crying,
When there's really nothing wrong.
I wish we'd had more time,
Before your life was done.
I hope your resting peacefully,
My precious one







Made with love by Sarah Porter, mom to Angel Laura



This memorial website was created in the memory of our loved one, Ryan Lamantia who was born on July 04, 1999 and passed away on September 08, 2005 at the age of 6. We will remember him forever. Ryan was a very loving, caring, amazing person, who loved life itself. He was Spiderman and now he can protect us all. He never complained during his treatments of pain or suffering, he made the best of every day. All he wanted to do was to be able to be outside and play or ride his motorcycle. The courage & strength he had was just amazing. I love you baby and miss you so much!! I''am so proud of you and honored that you are my son! You have a special place in my heart and it aches every time I think of you. I was told I can make new memories with your spirit, and I look forward to all these new experiences I will treasure for the rest of my life.

          



Ryan your love for your sister will always remain. I remember all the times you guys hugged and kissed and you would always introduce her as your little sister Alyssa. She misses you soo much and I know you will protect her and be her guardian angel.   

     "You don''t get over it, you just get through it. You don''t get by it, because you can''t get around it. It doesn''t ''get better''; it just gets different. Every day... Grief puts on a new face..."

                                  

                         
 
       
 
Ryan belonged to a motorcycle group called the Odd Fellows. One day 15 members came by on their motorcycles and gave Ryan the best tribute he could imagine. Then they took him for a ride around the block. I know it is a day he will never forget. Ryan was also a T.V. Star. He was on a commerical for fathers day with Steve Baskerville ( channel 2 weatherman) and made some appearances on all tv channels with Venice & Serina Williams and Childrens Memorial receiving christmas gifts with his sister.


             

             
My Purpose


I have cancer. There isn't any explanation as to why I got sick.
All I know is God has a plan for each of us and for each plan there
is a purpose. Some of us know what our purpose in life is and others
will never find it. Then there are those like me who accomplish it
without ever realizing it.
My journey with cancer will not and has not been without purpose,
It is through my illness that I have helped doctors understand this
disease a little more so they may find a cure.
It is through my illness that I have opened the eyes to those around me
to how precious life really is. Something we all to often take
for granted.

It is through my illness that some of those around me have realized
that life is too short to be afraid of our feelings. My cancer has
been beaten back by the power of love. It is the most powerful of
emotions, one not to be afraid of, but to be embraced. To be loved
by someone unconditionally and completely is to reach into your soul
and feel warmth.

It is through my illness that I have shown there is no guarantee for
the future--only dreams for it. Whether the future is just another
day or another 75 years, we should all dream big and live fully
everyday.

It is through my illness that I have seen the strong cry, only to 
find more strength.

It is through my illness that some of us who haven't talk to God
in a while have once again begun to pray.

It is through my illness that I have joined the hands of those
familiar to those of strangers, to form one long chain.
I have already accomplished so much in such a short amount of time
and each day I continue to touch the hearts of many.

That is my purpose

The Ache We Hold Inside

When children we love are taken,
And the years pass slowly by,
You feel the grieving is over.
But the ache is still inside
This life of ours must continue,
And the tears we must learn to hide,
But you know it will never leave you,
This ache we feel inside.
Their siblings go on with their future,
And you know this is how it should be.
You share in their joys and sorrows,
But that ache won't let you free,
Where they rest you visit less often,
And their voice is not as clear,
And our zest for life is returning,
But the ache is always near,
Our friends and family tell us,
How well we handled our grief,
If they only knew deep within us,
From this ache there is no relief,
When alone we talk to them often,
For we know they are still by our side,
And the warmth of our memories comfort,
But the ache will always abide,
As we continue this earthly voyage,
And the calm and the storms pass by,
We will cherish our precious memories,
And this ache we hold inside.

Author unknown







If Roses grow in Heaven,
Lord pick a bunch for me,
Place them in my son's arms
And tell him they are from me.
Tell him I love him and miss him,
And when he turns to smile,
Place a kiss upon his cheek,
And hold him for a while.
Because remembering him is easy,
I do it every day,
But there's an ache within my heart,
That will never go away.

Made by Sarah Porter




He never wanted to be home, he was always an on the go child. His 2 favorite places to be at was Auntie Cathy's & Uncle Pino's with his 2 favorite cousins, Catlyn & Shannon. Grandma Val's was his other favorite spot. He felt safe and loved to sit on grandma's bed watching movies with her and having her fetch anything he wanted. He was very spoiled but deserved every bit of it. Grandpa Pat always took him for bike rides, fishing, walks, to the park or anywhere they wanted to go. He could never say no to his grandchildren. 

                          
 
          
                     
In Ryan's memory we have set up the Ryan Lamantia Foundation where we will be accepting money to donate to hospitals researching brain tumors to help find a cure and we will be accepting brand new toys to hand out to children who have to spend their time in the hospital receiving chemo, blood transfusions, stem cell transplants,etc instead of being able to spend time as a child. We have also put a  memorial garden in our backyard in Ryan's memory. 
     
 
      



   
     

                  
                 



  





 To purchase a wristband, please send me an e-mail at tmra@comcast.net.  All proceeds will benefit Children with brain tumors. 1 for $2 or 3 for $5.


   



Rebel with a cause
  Young and carefree
   Always remembered
          Never forgotten              

 Daddy please don''t look so sad, mommy please don''t cry.
"Cause I''m in the arms of jesus and he sings me lullabies.

Please try not to question God, don''t think he is unkind.
Don''t think he sent me to you, and then he changed his mind.

You see, I am a special child, and I''m needed up above.
I''m the special gift you gave him, the product of your love.

I''ll always be there with you, and watch the sky at night.
Find the brightest star thats gleaming, that''s my halo''s brilliant light.

You''ll see me in the morning frost, that mists your window pane.
That''s me, in the summer showers, I''ll be dancing in the rain.

When you feel a little breeze, from a gentle wind that blows,
That''s me, I''ll be there, planting a kiss on your nose.

When you see a child playing and your heart feels a tug,
That''s me, I''ll be there, giving your heart a hug.

So daddy, please don''t look so sad, and mommy please don''t cry,
I'm in the arms of Jesus, and he sings me lullabies
            




                                                   
  

This little Dove of Peace flies from site to site. Please help it make a
line around the globe by taking it with you to your site and giving it to someone else for their site. 


    

We light these candles for you Ry-Ry!

Ryan here is a poem I wanted to say at the funeral, but didn't the get chance.

     Our darling Precious Ryan
      We were all by your side
   with tears we watched over you
   and held your hand and cried
     you fought so hard to stay 
   our hearts were slowly breaking
   as we watched you slip away
  your final breathe was so soft and sweet
     your life was over, you now lay in peace
      we know you had to leave us, you did not go alone
  for part of us went with you the day
 the angels took you home
   you have given us so much love
        thank you Ryan for all your love
       now you are safe in the arms of Jesus
            where pain does not exist
            we will be together again one day
               we will always love you.

    

Now that you are gone
It's been so hard to carry on
Without your tender, warm embrace
the love that beamed upon your face
you shined so bright, it blinded me
and taught me how I aught to be
to love, to care, to cherish, to live
to pour out all you have to give
in every little thing you do
I've learned so very much from you
My angel, my life, my love, my son
the change in me has just begun
i pray for hope, i pray for grace
I'll keep your memory in this place
and everyone I meet will see
the love from you, lives on in me.                     shannon wofford

The brightest star in the sky!!









God saw you getting tired
And a cure was not to be.
So he put His arms around you
And whispered, "Come with Me.
With tearful eyes we watched you suffer
And saw you fading away.
Althought we loved you dearly,
We could not make you stay.
A golden heart stopped beating,
Hard working hands to rest.
God broke our hearts to prove to us
He only takes the best.







                                              


                 

 The house is empty without your laughter,
But I know you're in Heaven Ryan
Watching over us and looking after us.
And when you left this world 
A small part of me died. 
Your smile could brighten anyone's day 
No matter what they were going through,
 And I know everyday for the rest of my life Ryan
I'll be missing you.You were so full of life Ryan
    Always smiling and carefree,
   Life loved you being a part of it,
    And I loved you being a part of me.

You could make anyone laugh Ryan,
If they were having a bad day,
No matter how sad I was,
   You could take the hurt away.
 Nothing could every stop you Ryan
Or even make you fall,
 You were ready to take on the world 
Ready to do it all.
But God decided he needed you,
So from this world you left,
  But you took a piece of all of us,
 Our hearts are what you kept. 

Your bed is now empty Ryan
  And it's hard not to see your face,
But please always know this Ryan
No one will ever take your place.

You left without a warning Ryan
Not even saying good-bye,
And I can't seem to stop,
Asking the question why?
Nothing will ever be the same Ryan

 You are remembered everyday Ryan xx











HONORARY ODD FELLOWS MEMBER



FLT

                                  
 "Death leaves a heartache no one can heal....Love 
leaves a memory no one can steal."

Mom, please don’t feel guilty

 It was just my time to go.

I see you are still feeling sad,

And the tears just seem to flow.

We all come to earth for our lifetime,

And for some it’s not many years

I don’t want you to keep crying

You are shedding so many tears.

I haven’t really left you

Even though it may seem so.

I have just gone to my heavenly home,

And I’m closer to you than you know.

Just believe that when you say my name

I’m standing next to you,

I know you long to see me,

But there’s nothing I can do.

But I’ll still send you messages

And hope you understand,

That when your time comes to “cross over,”

I’ll be there to take your hand.
 
          


        
We thank everyone who gave us support during this very hard time in our life. We could not have done it without all of you , all the donations helped us pay bills, food, gas & be able to stay with him during all his treatments. 

A Special thank you to my sister and brother in law, Cathy  & Pino and my parents for all their help taking care of Ryan's little sister, Alyssa,  & for helping us around the house without you there we do not know what we would have done.

Both of our jobs are a great example of Family first. The Bradford Exchange let Todd work from home, so he could be with his best friend and son every minute of each day. Vicorp Restaurants let me do what I needed to do at any time without any questions asked, we couldn't ask for better bosses or company's to work for, Thank you Mike Shriner & Jill Bagley.

My Uncle Andrew, Aunt Rose, Mary Theresa, Rose, Andy, Breege & Ryan's favorite 2nd cousin Sean, we thank you for all the support you have given us, the dinners you brought over, the money you just handed us and most of all the special tribute at his funeral, the bagpipes. We love you and couldn't ask for a better family to share our special times with.

We would like to thank all who gave us soo much support right after Ryan's death, Our neighbors, Lisa & Dave, Ron & Carolyn, Rich & Deb and Dave  & Allyson for bringing us food. Also, Anna, Dale & Denise, who brought over tons of food and were just there to let it all out. Sonja, my best friend, for all the support, dinners, talks, I could not have asked for a better friend to have and help support me. Eddy & Val, for all your support during the last few hard months. We thank you all and are blessed to have such good hearted friends in our lives. 

Made by Sarah Porter~Mom to Angel Laura