Susan Niebur passed away on February 6, 2012 after a lifetime of love, crusades, and strength. Over the last five years she lived with inflammatory breast cancer, a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer that presents without a lump. She chronicled her life with cancer here on her blog Toddler Planet with honesty and emotion that were even more rare and aggressive.
She is survived by her family, friends, achievements, and the indelible marks she made on people around the world. In lieu of flowers, please consider furthering Susan’s legacy through a contribution to the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Or please choose to make a difference somewhere, anywhere, to anyone.
I can’t begin to describe how her friends, those physically nearby and those she knew only on the internet, enabled her to carry on through five years of treatment and recurrence. Many of you have commented on Susan’s strength and grace, but these were traits that she pulled from all of you.
Thank you all,
Curt Niebur (WhyDaddy)
Toddler Planet is written by 
Toddler Planet 
Love you, Curt
I am so very sorry. Susan is loved beyond belief – now and before. xo
I am so sorry. Susan was and will continue to inspire me. My heart is with all of you. Lots of love.
She is so loved. Thank you for sharing her with us here.
I wish you all the best in light and love.
Your family is the very image of grace, strength, and love. I am better for knowing Susan, as the world is immeasurably better for her being here. I am so very sorry for your loss.
I cannot say it any better or different or better than this. Thank you.
Yes, as many times as there are stars in the sky.
Perfectly said, Laurie. Absolutely, perfectly said.
My heart is aching at Susan’s passing, it will affect so very many. Anything I try to say comes out wrong. So I’m deferring to Laurie, as she she said it so well, and saying ditto.
It doesn’t seem long enough since Susan was waiting for the first doctor’s appointment and sharing her nervousness on her blog. What Susan managed to put into that time was amazing and a credit to herself but also to those around her.
My thoughts will continue to be with you all
Suzie
xxx
I am so sorry. I have followed Susan’s blog for years. She was an inspiration in her courage and in her fight against this horrible disease.
Holding you and your family in our hearts — your story has been one that has made me know the depth of love, strength and compassion.
Oh no. I’m so very sorry to hear this. Much love to you and the boys, and all who miss Susan.
I am so, so sorry for your loss.
Sending so much sympathy and as many condolences as my heart can bear. I’m so sorry for your family’s loss.
I am so sorry for your loss. My heart and thoughts are with you and the boys.
The strength and courage and honesty that you showed us throughout these years will forever change me.
May you rest in peace Susan, knowing you lived a life full of love and full of life.
My thoughts are with your family. I am so sorry for your loss.
I’m so very for your loss, for the worlds loss. Wrapping your friends and family in love, thoughts and happy memories.
Prayers coming to you and your family from Kansas City. Your wife shed an incredible light on the world.
Praying for peace for you and yours, Curt!
Oh, no. Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t know her but I loved her anyway. Stupid cancer.
Susan will continue to inspire so many people. Hugs to you, Curt, and to your family.
Be at Peace WhyMommy, your bright attitude and the blessings you leave behind are but a small part of the reason so many have followed your every move. We’ll miss you. Love and strength to the whole family xx
Love and support to you and yours. I’m so very sorry for your loss.
She was a wonderful woman. What an awful disease. My sympathies with you and the boys and the rest of her family.
so much love + prayers. I feel lucky to have known such a wonderful and amazing person. All our love.
Susan was one of the finest people i’ve had the pleasure of knowing, online and in person.
my heart goes out to you and the boys, Curt. thank you for sharing her with us.
I’m so very sorry
Oh, God. My heart’s in my throat. So very, very sorry to hear this.
I am so sad to hear this news, and so sorry for your family’s loss. I will always remember Susan and her powerful words. We were all touched and blessed to share her story.
Love to you and all of her family. I’m sure the legacy of her values and spirit will live on through your boys. They are very lucky to have both of you as parents.
You’re a good husband, Curt Niebur, an inspiration to us all of how 1 Corinthians 13 is well lived.
My heart is breaking for all of you,even as I smile through tears at the memory of a wonderful woman. I often say, at a time like this, may her memory be for a blessing. I know that Susan’s memory IS a blessing, comfort, and inspiration for all of us.
I am so saddened to read this. You will all be in my thoughts.
May you find peace and comfort in knowing the strength she helped so many of us find in our day-to-day lives. Thank you, Curt, for sharing her with us.
I am so sorry. I have followed her blog since the beginning and I feel like I have lost a friend even though we never met. Hugs to you and your boys (I have a 6 yr old) and I can’t imagine. May you find comfort in them and in all the people who loved her.
Dear Curt —
I am so incredibly sorry. Our family is holding yours in our hearts right now.
Susan, we will remember you!
Oh my goodness, my heart is breaking. I cannot begin to elaborate on the lengths with which Susan touched my life. Please know your family continues to be in my thoughts.
No angel fights alone either.
May her memory be eternal. I have been thinking of Susan these last few days and checking the blog for news. She truly made the world a better place in her too-short life than most people do in a full span of years. My heart and prayers go out to all who loved her. She was an exceptional woman.
Susan, you’ve made such a tremendous difference in the world, and in our lives. Bless you and your family. Peace.
Fly high, Susan. The Earth you left behind is a better place for having had you here. When I look into the night sky, I will be thankful for knowing you, though we only met once.
Prayers to you, Curt, and your children and your entire family. I’m so very sorry.
I will continue to pray for Susan’s dear family. xoxo
I am so very sorry for your loss. Rest in peace, Susan. We will remember.
Sending much support and caring……
I’m sitting here writing up a lesson plan for 2nd graders on explaining the Earth, Moon, and Sun’s relationship. I was just thinking about Susan and I saw the post on Facebook.
I’ve followed Susan’s story for the past 5 years. Our sons are close in age, and I have rediscovered my inner space nerd due to my son’s curiosity about the world, and to Susan’s work with NASA.
Thank you Curt for sharing your sweet wife with the world.
I am so very sorry.
My deepest sympathies to you and your boys, Curt.
Holding you and your family in my thoughts and prayers.
I am so very sad for you and your family and the loss you must be feeling now. I pray that Susan has found peace and I hope you and those that loved her will find peace as well. My deepest condolences. You will be missed Susan.
may you, your family and friends be filled with loving, warm memories. Susan will be missed and remembered with adoring love.
My condolences. Many of us will feel her loss. As a cancer patient myself, I read her blogs and followed her fight. I’m very sorry. We HAVE to find a cure for this disease!
Love and hugs to you and the family, Curt. Susan has left an amazing imprint on all of us and I consider myself so, so blessed to have been able to call her “friend.”
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Susan was an amazing woman with a fantastic reach in sharing her story.
I know you and your boys loved her well. My deepest sympathies.
So deeply sorry for your loss! My prayers go out to you, your children and the rest of your family.
Curt,
Please know that our love goes out to you and the boys. I am sorry they didn’t have more time with Susan, as she was an amazing person.
I am so sorry. You are all in my thoughts and prayers.
I am so very sorry for your loss. She was, and is, inspiring.
I am so very sorry. Sending love & prayers to you and your family.
Curt, I am so deeply sorry for your loss. Susan was a true role model to me, as a human being, a leader, a community organizer, and a mom. She was a gift to the world.
Morra
I love you.
-Dorry
I only knew her online via Twitter, but she enriched my life greatly with her strength and grace discussing topics of cancer and everyday life. She will be missed.
Susan will be so missed. My thoughts are with you and your beautiful boys. May she be watching over you.
So sorry for your loss. Susan was an amazing woman, I feel honored that I got to meet her and hear her speak at BlogHer ’10. I’ll be keeping your family in my prayers.
My deepest sympathies for your family’s loss. She was wonderful.
I want to echo what Marie T wrote: Susan’s fight, your family’s story has shown me the true meaning of grace, dignity, familial love, faith and what devoted friendship looks like.
Susan will be missed by many, many people.
I don’t know how you can possibly bear this loss, but Susan always called you WonderDaddy, and so I know you will, somehow. All my heartfelt prayers for you and the boys– for comfort, healing, peace.
So much love for all of you. You all did every thing right.
So terribly sorry for your loss.
I am so sorry.
I only heard of this blog a few weeks ago but her courage spoke volumes to me. She continues to inspire. Love and light and healing to you and your family.
My thoughts of peace and love to your family.
Steph
I am just, so sorry. Her blog inspired me so very much.
Susan’s strength and courage are an inspiration. She will be missed by so many. My thoughts are with you all.
She has always been something incredible. So sorry for the world today, we lost a fantastic angel.
Curt….while we’ve never met face to face, I feel I know you and your boys through Susan. My heart goes out to you as you face these challenging days. The deep love and connection you and Susan have shared is evident in her posts.
It’s been my honor and privilege to know Susan and provide what support and help I could during these past 5 years. Being able to meet in person was special. Her passing leaves a huge hole in all our hearts. Susan’s powerful voice will continue to inspire, educate, and speak to many.
In memory of my dear friend Susan…..we’ll keep pushing to find the answers to this crummy disease.
Much love to all of you.
My deepest grief is for you and your children during this time, and for the years to come. I will be remembering you all in very committed prayers. Susan was a remarkable woman, and she touched so many lives.
So much peace and love to Susan and her family.
Susan will be dearly missed.
The loss is palpable. I met Susan briefly at BlogHer in 2010 after her incredible Keynote and I’ve followed her blog closely ever since. Words seem trivial but please know that Susan’s life always touched me and inspired me to be a better person. I will make a donation to The Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation in her honor right now.
I am so very sorry. I have prayed for Susan and for your family every day for so long. I am thankful that you shared her with the world, and I hope you find peace and comfort in knowing that she meant so much to many, many people. May God bless you.
I’m so sorry. I met Susan in DC at the NBCC conference last year and have been following blog for some time. My deepest condolences.
Katie
My deepest thoughts and sympathies. Words are never enough, but you’ve got love and prayers from Texas.
I am so very sorry for your loss. My thoughts and heart are with you and your family.
Sending your family much love. So many people are carrying Susan’s legacy on.
Oh, Curt… I am so so sorry that she is gone. I can only imagine how much you must have all loved her as she was loved so much by people who had never even met her. My heart and love go out to you and your boys. Sending so much love…
I am so terribly sorry. Words fail. Sending love and blessings.
Liza
My condolences. You and your boys will remain on my mind, as will Susan.
May you and your family have the strength to get through this time, and remember the love that a mother continues to have for your children and family beyond this life.
We spent some time together at BlogHer 2010, and I am blessed to have even that bit of personal time with you. Be well.
I am so sorry to hear this. Susan was an amazing person. I will miss her voice in the blogosphere. You and your family have my deepest sympathies.
Dear Curt
Susan’s legacy will live on with all of us committed to end IBC. I wish I could give you a hug. May the road ahead comfort you with love, light and peace. She is the stars shining down on us.
God bless you and your family.
Diane and Dan Krapf
Reblogged this on Ufeud Debates.
I am so, so sorry for all of your loss. I will miss her voice, and her humor, and her grace. And I will be thinking about you and the boys, always.
My deepest sympathy to you and your family.
A wonderful woman who was a gift to all who came in contact with her….she was much loved. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family!
Bonnie Julius, President
Crickett’s Answer for Cancer
To Susan’s cherished family: I am so sorry for your incredible loss. Susan was a remarkable woman, and above all else, beyond her many accomplishments professionally and in advocacy for cancer awareness and research, her love for her family was beautiful to observe.
She will be missed, very much. Even by those who never knew her.
Cassandra
Susan, may you finally be at peace and pain free. My heart goes out to your husband and children. I wish them peace and send them love through this terrible time. Susan, you were the definition of strength. The world lost you too soon. With love, Barbara
I am so sorry. She was a courageous warrior who inspired so many. Sincerely,
Monica Sakala
I didn’t know Susan, but I am so sorry to hear this. Grace and peace with you during this time, whatever those things mean for you.
I’m so very sorry for your loss.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. Susan was an amazing example of strength, grace, intelligence, and love. To say that she will be missed just does not seem big enough to convey the hole left by her passing. We were all blessed by knowing her, even if only through the internet. I will be keeping all of you in my thoughts, heart, and prayers. I’m so, so sorry.
So sorry for your tremendous loss. My prayers are with your family.
Sincere condolences. We are very saddened to hear about your loss. Your family is in our thoughts.
Julie and Francois
I am so very sorry. She was a kick ass woman.
So very sorry this tragic loss. Thoughts and prayers are with your family…
I am sorry for your loss. I met Susan at BlogHer. She was kind, welcoming and inspiring.
My deepest condolences. Thinking of all of you!
I am so very sorry.
I am crestfallen, heartbroken. I write through tears.
Please take comfort in the fact that she has touched so many lives, and she will be in so many hearts forever and ever. Especially my own.
Much love to you all.
Liz
Peace to you all. She was a fine, fine woman and we were all blessed to have been given a small slice of her here on the Internet.
prayers
I’m so sorry for your loss.
My heart is hurting for your family. Love to you all.
Praying for you all. I never met Susan but through her words and her life, I was changed.
Rest easy Susan. My heart goes out to your family.
[…] Her husband Curt writes a good bye post […]
Sending you and your family lots of love and prayers of healing.
I am so very sorry. She was an amazing inspiration.
I “met” her in the blogging world about 5 years ago when she was first diagnosed and followed her through much of her journey.
My heart aches for you and your family.
She will live on in my memory and my heart forever.
Sending prayers and love to you all. http://www.whosthebossblog.com/my_weblog/2012/01/for-susan.html
It’s quite hard to say goodbye and it brought tears to my eyes just reading the words goodbye but I know that the legacy Susan left will forever remain imprinted in all the lives she touched. My deepest sympathy.
I am so deeply sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family and may Susan rest peacefully. She will be missed greatly.
My thoughts are with you and your boys. She showed such love and grace on her blog. I never had the honor of meeting her, but reading her blog gave me such an insight to her and to your family.
I only had the opportunity to spend time with Susan last year, but she was so full of life and love for everyone and life. My heart goes out to you Curt, your children, and all of the lives Susan touched. My thoughts and prayers are with you.
So sorry for your loss.
My condolences to you and your family.
I am so sorry.Send you and your family my deepest sympathies.
Gerður in Iceland.
So much love to you and your family.
I am so, so sorry for all of you. Susan was an incredible lady and such a tremendous inspiration. I never had the pleasure of meeting her in person but her impression on me was staggering. Her huge heart and her grace Under such difficult circumstances will be things about her that I will remember forever. Susan will be missed by everyone and remembered with love. I wish you and your family my deepest condolences and I hope you can somehow find peace through your heartbreak.
Rest easy beautiful Mommy. Love and peace to your family.
~Kezia
I have been following Susan’s blog for a while, and my heart just sunk as I read this post. As a woman and a scientist myself, Susan was and will continue to be an inspiration.
I am so sorry that Susan never found a miracle cure but maybe the miracle is how many lives she touched. Sending heartfelt sympathy to you and your family.
I’m so sorry for you and your boys. Much love to all of you.
So incredibly sad to read this. She has left such a legacy behind. Sending love and strength to your family.
I’m so sorry. I only met Susan briefly, and yet her death has really affected me. She was the *definition* of “courageous.”
Sending warm thoughts to you and your family.
K.
May her memory be for a blessing.
I’m so very sorry for your family’s loss. I only knew Susan in passing via the the internet but I followed her battle over the past few years and I’m deeply saddened by the loss of such a special lady who did so much in the name of women, science and breast cancer. Peace and love to your family.
I’d never even heard of Susan’s blog until a just saw someone’s twitter comment, but after reading this latest post I’m in tears…my heart goes out to you and your family in its rawest and deepest form
You are in my thoughts…. you and your precious children. My heart is broken. Susan is and will forever be, a MOST special person. May she rest peacefully knowing WE are determined to make a difference. I send love to all.
I am so sorry for your loss. Susan is an inspiration and showed courage beyond words. You and your family are in my thoughts.
Curt, I am so sorry. I have been following Susan’s blog for years. I am so sorry for you and your boys.
I’m so sorry 😦
I’m so, so very sorry.
Thank you, @whydaddy, so very much for sharing her with us. God bless you all and please know we are thinking of you and our hearts are with you.
Thank you Susan for being such an amazing, courageous and strong advocate for so many! You will continue to be an inspiration.
I am so sorry to hear of this. In the few short months I’ve followed this blog, Susan had a great impact on me and my life. May she rest in peace. My thoughts are with you and your family, Curt.
Love to you and the boys, Curt. Susan inspired me in so many ways. It was a great blessing to be her friend.
I am so grief stricken.
I am so very, very sorry to hear this.
Oh, that last post of hers…coloring herself purple.
I am so very, very sorry.
I’m so terribly saddened for you, the kids, and all of your parents. Blessings for healing and peace as you move forward. Please let us in the Internet world know of anything else we can do to help you and the kids.
Your wife had a strong impact on me as a cancer patient and as a total stranger. She will be greatly missed.
All my best- Jenny
I never had the pleasure of meeting Susan in real life, but admired her grace, strength, and courage in battling cancer, being a mom, and being a scientist. She will always remain an inspiration to me.
How could someone whom I never met make such a lasting impression on me? I don’t know, but I know that she certainly did, and I know that the ripples of her impact will go on and on and on …
I only knew her through this blog, but I will miss her words, her intellect, and her strength.
Much love and strength to you and the children, and everyone she touched in this world. She will be a strong and loving spirit within all of you…
I’m so sorry to hear this. I didn’t know Susan, but she touched my heart — and so many others. May you and the family find peace.
Heaven has earned one of the sweetest souls I have ever had the pleasure of calling my friend. Godspeed sweet Susan. We will see each other again someday!
So so so sorry to hear this and I’m sorry for the pain your family is feeling now. Susan was amazing and much loved.
I am so sorry. She is an inspiration.
Knowing Susan made me a better person. My heart goes out to you Curt and the boys. I wish there was something we could do or say to make this less painful.
I am so sad to hear of your loss!
Oh, no. I’ve been checking back hoping for an update, but not this one. I found Susan on my search for other mommies in cyberspace after the birth of my oldest, and so enjoyed her perspective on parenting, science, life. Everything. Thank you for sharing her with us, and blessings to you and your boys.
So loved, forever.
Big hugs to you and the children, Curt. I am so sorry IBC had to steal her away far too soon. Heaven just gained one heck of an angel. I miss her already.
My thoughts are with you and your family.
An amazing woman who will be greatly missed. I’m especially grateful to Susan for rekindling my love science and to remember to point out the stars to my children.
Prayers to your family.
amazing post..i love to read this
While our causes were quite different, Susan showed me what it means to productively fight for what needs to improve in patient care and in research.
Many thoughts of love to you and your family, Curt.
So very many prayers to you, your boys and the entire family. There simply aren’t words for moments like this. Only gestures of love and support. I am sending you as many hugs as I can.
I also only knew her through the internet and her words, but I found those to be very powerful. She mattered and that’s the best I can say for anyone. Thoughts and prayers with you and the boys.
Devastated, crushed, and writing through tears.
Please take heart in the fact that that she has touched so many of us and lives on in our hearts. Especially mine.
Many condolences to you and your family.
Liz
I am so sorry for your loss. Susan made such a positive impact on this world and on many, many lives. I wish that I could have just a fraction of her knowledge and grace. I will think of her each time I gaze up into the stars.
Wishing you peace during this difficult tiime.
Oh my goodness. I am so very sorry for your loss. Susan was a remarkable woman. Prayers.
So incredibly sorry for your loss. Heartbroken and sending hugs. Such a brave site, beautiful person and sad illness.
I am so grateful that I got to meet Susan and get to know her even just a little bit. She was a wonderful woman. My deepest sympathies to you and your family.
Her memory will be a blessing
I am so sorry for your loss..
I want to leave me condolences and pay my respects to you all. Susan has touched my heart for years. Wishing you strength during this time, all my love, Karen
There are no words to express how much Susan touched all of our lives and will continue to do so. Know that all of the blog world is surrounding you and your family with love.
love and strength to you and yours, curt.
So very sorry to hear this news. Sending love you and your family.
Peace and prayers for all of you.
I am so, so sad to read this. My warmest thoughts are with your family.
I am so saddened to read this. Sending you and your boys love and strength.
Love and hugs to your family.
My thoughts are with you and yours.
Curt,
The love she had for you and the boys made her strong enough to fight for these five years. Thank you so much for giving her the space to share that love with all of us.
She will never leave my heart–nor will you and the boys.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I will keep you all in my thoughts. I only knew of Susan through recent posts, but it’s obvious she has had such an impact on so many people who will help to keep her spirit and passion going.
So sad. My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time.
This indeed is a wretched day. Susan and Rach…I can’t even take it in. I’m so sorry, Curt. She and you and your boys are in our hearts.
Susan was my very first exposure to the power of blogging. The very first “badge” I put in my sidebar in 2007 was for her.
She inspired me to make a difference somewhere, anywhere, to anyone. She started a chain reaction for me and I will never forget her or the difference she made.
Love to your family. Great thanks and love to Susan.
My heart is broken for you and your family–a loss that is magnified by all those whose lives she touched in person and online. She will always remain my inspiration.
It’s not fair…prayers to your family now…God bless you all.
Saddened. I met her just once in person. I felt embarrassed after asking about her arm in a sling when she told me why it was. But she instantly put me at ease and we went on to have a nice chat. So sorry.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family- extra hugs for those precious boys!
I am so sorry for her passing. No words can express what your going thru. We here on the Blog whom have followed her, have does so loving praying her cancer would be healed but no.
Peace.
I’m so sorry.
I am so very sorry to hear this. My deepest condolences to you and your family.
Sending love and prayers during this difficult time.
And when the earth shall claim your limbs, then shall you truly dance. (Gibran) And I will always see you in the stars.
I’m crying, although I never met her. May there be comfort to all of you who knew and loved her.
I am so sorry. She will be missed.
Oh, Curt. I’m so very sorry. Susan was so deeply loved. Please know that the blogosphere and twitterverse surround you and those tender young boys with love. Thank you all for the joy you brought to her life and the support and inspiration you provided to her so she could share her life with us. Susan made a difference.
Curt,
I only met you once or twice but want you to know your family will always be in my prayers.
Susan commented to me once that it was brave of me to speak out my son’s mental illness; that I was making a difference. Her acknowledgement and the way she told her own story so honestly helped encourage me to keep sharing.
May peace be with her family and children tonight and always.
Susan will be missed, but she won’t be forgotten. She was an extraordinary woman, and I admired her so much. You and your children are in my thoughts and prayers.
I am so very sorry for your loss, she was an amazingly strong woman! Lifting your family up in prayers.
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.
Such a remarkable friend, such a remarkable life! My thoughts are with you and the boys….
Dear Curt — Thank you for sharing her with us. I will never forget Susan’s amazing fight, remarkable spirit, and powerful words. My deepest sympathies to you and your boys, and the rest of Susan’s family.
I am so very sorry. I will miss Susan’s intelligent analysis, loving heart and crystalline prose very much.
May Susan rest in God’s nearer presence, and may all those who love her be comforted by God’s love and grace.
You all will be in our thoughts and prayers. What a wonderful legacy she has left and an inspiration she has been—and you have been—for those of us who are fighting cancer in families with young children.
Peace and love to you and the family, Curt.
So, so sorry. She will be missed very much.
Susan inspired so many with her tenacity and authenticity. We were blessed to share this internet space with someone as special as her. Praying for you and your children!
I’m so sorry for your loss.
Hugs, prayers, love and may you find peace knowing she is in your hearts and looking down on you.
I’m so sorry to hear this news… peace and love to you all. xox
I am so sorry for your loss. I didn’t know Susan, either in real or virtual life, but we have mutual friends, so I’ve peeked in here from time to time to see how she was doing. I was rooting for her, for all of you.
She was loved, that is clear. In that she will live on. I wish you all peace and love.
I am so sorry for your loss. I only knew Susan through Twitter and Facebook but she was such a joy. My thoughts, prayers and sympathies are with you & yours in this difficult time.
Curt, I am so sorry for your loss. I only had limited opportunity to know Susan online, but I consider myself lucky to have met her and will miss her. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Sincerely,
Matt
Much love to you and your family. I’m so sorry.
I know my family sends our very best to yours. Susan was – and still is – inspirational.
I wish I could think of anything to say other than I’m just so sorry. The word I think of when I think of Susan is fortitude. The fortitude to tell her story, even when it would have been more comfortable to be quiet.
She will be so greatly missed by her entire online family, including me and I know the entire BlogHer community too.
Sincere condolences. Hold tight to her love and your joyful memories.
Enveloping your family in a hug. What an inspiration Susan was. And I only knew her thru social networks. Thank you. With the warmest wishes and deepest respect.
I am so very sad. Though, I only knew her online for the past 5 years, I am really going to miss Susan. She inspired me to be a better mother so many times and I will think of her often as I strive to be more present and involved with my children, with no excuses. Thank you Susan and may God bless your husband and boys.
My heart breaks for all of you. Especially her kids who won’t have such a bright star throughout their lives.
I’m so very very sorry for your loss. Much love to you all.
I’m so sorry Curt, for you and your boys. I learned so much from Susan about science, parenting, compassionate care, and love. Thank you for sharing her with us.
Peace and light and healing to you, Curt, and to your family.
Susan was a force. I will miss her.
I am so very sorry for your loss. May love, strength, and peace envelope your family at this difficult time.
I am so sorry for what you and your children and all of your family have lost, and so admiring and grateful for what you have all given. I wish you hope and healing.
A sad day as we say Goodbye to a fighter, a writer, an incredible blogger … a wife … a Mom. A life taken too soon.
Susan taught about the stars and now when we look up, we will see her there …
Peace and light to you and your sweet boys.
Curt, you, and the rest of your and Susan’s family, have all of my love. Always. I am here for you, always. I love Susan so very much and will miss her terribly. Love you.
I love you forever Susan.
I am so sorry for your loss! Susan has made a big impression on so many of us. Thinking of you.
Goodbye Susan. Thank you for all you have done and that your work will continue.
Blessings to you, Curt, and your boys. You all will be in my prayers.
My thoughts are with all of you. I am so sorry for your loss; thank you for sharing your story.
i feel like our world is a better place because of Susan and the awareness she raised for so many causes will continue because of her and for that we are all forever in her debt.thank you for sharing her with all of us
I am so sorry, Curt. Thank you for posting this at such a hard time.
Susan was an inspiration to so many. Sending prayers from Biloxi.
I am so sorry for your loss. I will keep you and the rest of the family in my thoughts and prayers.
My thoughts are with you and your family. Susan inspired so many.
I am so sorry for your loss. My heart and thoughts are with you and the boys. The world is better because of Susan’s influence on it – she was an inspiration to all. We will dearly miss her.
So sorry for your loss. I met her at a Beaglefest and she got to see Spanky, a foster dog, again. A vision of kindness she was.
Sending so much love to all of you.
We will miss you, much love Curt
Curt/Whydaddy — I never met you, but I had the pleasure of hanging with Susan at numerous DC events. The world is missing Susan’s bright, cheerful smile. I have never met anyone who could light up a room like Susan.
I am proud that I was a DC Mom with her.
I’m so, so sorry to hear this. I just discovered Susan’s blog a couple of weeks ago, and I’m literally shocked by this news. Peace to her family, her children.
Oh, … oh my. So much love to all of you. I know you’ll be surrounded with it. She’ll be so missed.
Wow, 238 comments just hours after this very sad news comes to us. I didn’t really know Susan beyond her postings here but she put so much of herself out there through her words for all of us that I do feel like I got to know her some – and she was kind enough to respond to me when she got such an outpouring and was so sick, Curt, I am so sorry for you, your boys and everyone else who knew and loved Susan, RIP Susan.
My sincere condolences. She touched so many lives.
Heartfelt goodby to you Susan…Spread your wings and fly dear lady. Thank you for sharing your journey with us for so many years.
I am so very sorry.
My heart goes out to you and your family. Susan will be dearly missed. Peace and strength to you.
she will be sorely missed. sending all our love.
So sorry to hear of this. My condolences.
I am so so sorry. I have loved reading her blog for years now and have been praying for her these last few weeks. I believe she is at peace now, and I hope that with time you and the boys will find some peace and comfort. She made a difference.
I am so very sorry for your loss.
Anima eius et animae omnium fidelium defunctorum per Dei misericordiam requiescant in pace. — May his soul and the souls of all the departed faithful by God’s mercy rest in peace.
Though I only knew her here, at Toddler Planet, I will miss her bright spirit. You and your family are in my prayers.
I am so sorry for your loss. Please know that those of us who held Susan so dear hold you and your family the same way.
You don’t know us, but we followed Susan. Our deepest condolences on your loss.
I am so sorry. Susan touched me, through the wires. Rest in Peace Sister Susan.
Curt, I am so very sorry for your family’s profound loss. Susan’s fight — and too many like hers — inspires the work my colleagues and I do each and everyday at the American Cancer Society. She was such a strong voice on our Blogger Council and she will always be with us. We will not give up until cancer no longer threatens those we love.
I am so sorry. My thoughts are with you and the kids.
So, so much love. So much respect. So much sorrow.
I just knew Susan’s impact here, and having heard her speak at BlogHers past. But I was inspired by it, along with so many.
Though I don’t know you Curt, and you don’t know me, I do send my love all the same, and wish you and your children all you need on the challenging journey ahead.
[…] Goodbye « Toddler Planet Added by on February 6, 2012.Saved under Hot Pages Goodbye « Toddler Planet […]
Susan did not waste a single minute of her life – living and loving with fierce energy. Her courageous determination to act as advocate for everyone who is affected by IBC was inspirational but she drew her strength from the rock-like foundation of the love of her family.
Susan often wrote about going outside to look at the night sky – sharing her love of space with her boys from a very early age. They will be comforted throughout their lives by these special memories.
Susan will always remain in my heart and I shall remember her when I look up at the night sky here in England.
I’m so very sorry. She had so many friends and will be missed. Prayers to you and your family.
Susan was known for so many wonderful gifts. My heart is with you and your children, your family and her friends. She won’t be forgotten and has inspired more than we can ever know.
This is a very sad day. Susan’s presence and beautiful writing touched me deeply. When I met her in person last year at the National Breast Cancer Coalition conference, I just thought “wow, what an incredible woman.” It is less than one year later. Sincere sympathies to you and your family. Susan is already missed.
–Gayle Sulik
My prayers are with your family.
I am very sorry to read this news. She was courageous, and surely amazing wife, mom and friend. She will be missed as a pillar of our community. Her words will remain a vivid example of her life here.
I only know what I’ve read here, but it’s clear the world has lost someone special. I’ll be thinking of you and your boys and wishing you strength and love. I am so, so sorry.
I will miss Susan dearly. She has made an incredible impact on my own life and will never be forgotten. My heart is with you and your boys.
I am so sorry for your loss, Curt. Susan’s courage and your courage demonstrate a better way to face life’s challenges, in an existence that is granted to each of us only one day at a time.
Peace, friend. You are in my prayers.
I’m so sorry.
Susan made me a better mother and wife. Her inspiration over the last 5 years will live on in thousands of us who were touched by her kindness, her honesty, and her pure joy in mothering her babies. Please know that she made a tremendous difference in our lives. Curt, thank you for sharing her with us.
You and your family are in my prayers.
So sorry for your loss.
Goodbye, Susan, you will absolutely be missed, but never ever forgotten. Curt, my deepest condolences.
So very sorry to read this today. Susan was such and inspiration to many. My prayers to you and your boys.
Please accept my heartfelt sympathies for your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family during this difficult time.
I am so sorry. I never met Susan, but she touched my life through her writing. She was such a fighter and an inspiration. Hugs and prayers.
Much love to you and your family, Curt. Holding you, Widget and Little Bear close in my thoughts today
I am so sorry.
Susan is a woman I never had the honor to meet, but she left the biggest mark on my heart. Sending love to you Curt and your family. May the love Susan gathered lift you up through this time of healing.
May your family feel our love. She will be remembered always and with as much passion as we can muster. I can only hope to do her justice.
My thoughts and love are with you all today.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Susan was amazing. I loved reading her words, as did so many others. My deepest sympathies to all her loved ones.
I’m so very sorry for your loss, for the boys’ loss, and for the loss everyone who knew her will feel. may she rest in peace.
Dear Curt,
My deepest sympathies to you and your sons and your whole family; I know you all will miss Susan long and dearly, but I am glad you were blessed with her presence in your lives, even though it feels like it wasn’t for long enough. There are so many people on this earth who have lived much longer but not had the love Susan had for her life and family and friends, the hunger she had for learning and teaching, and the spirit of adventure — all of which she showed clearly through her blog, the way I knew her from reading “Toddler Planet” in recent years.
I am grateful Susan’s words will endure for your boys to draw strength and memories from in the years ahead. And I am glad, too, that the comments in the blog and in the lovefest were a ‘harvest’ of love that Susan was able to experience in her last days; in the end, I think we all want to know we were loved and valued and our lives and work had worth. Susan’s circle drew close to her and gave her the answer.
And it is clear that you were a particularly precious support to her; I hope you are able to get some rest and peace after caring so well to her for so long.
Sending much love to you and your boys. I met Susan three years ago at BlogHer/Chicago. She immediately struck me as the kind of smart, funny, friendly, opinionated person I want to be when I grow up.
May the love and heartbreak circling the blogosphere give you comfort and strength.
Curt,
Susan has affected the lives of countless women with breast cancer, besides people in her community and others who looked to her as a source of inspiration in facing all kinds of struggles. Thank you for helping her to share her story.
My thoughts are with you and your family now.
May this blog be a gift to your boys, so they can always know what a wonderful & amazing woman their mama was. She will not ever be forgotten & I am so terribly sorry for you loss.
All my love to your family.
[…] this post is about me, it really is meant to be about Susan Niebur, who passed away today from inflammatory breast cancer. She was a fighter and an inspiration for […]
We are all better for having had Susan in our lives. Curt, I’m so very sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing Susan with us and enabling us to be better people as a result of knowing her.
Love to all of you.
Susan’s life made such a difference in this world and she will never be forgotten
I am so sorry.
Susan inspired – and will continue to inspire – us all. She will be missed 😦 Thoughts & prayers to your family.
I am so very, very sorry for your loss. The word inspiration keeps coming up here, and she was.
My thoughts are with you and your family and friends during this time.
I am so very sorry for your loss.
I am so sorry for your loss. In addition to all those who knew her personally and will treasure all their interactions with Susan, you and the boys, Susan will love on in all those children whose parents, inspired by her blog, exposed them to space and science. I will pray for you and your family.
Bless you Curt and your family. Your wife will be so very missed. What a supremely special lady she is – and always will be – as she lives on in our hearts, our minds, and the ongoing fight to bring appropriate research that will assist and strengthen those who will walk in her footsteps.
What a courageous fight. We will never forget. Never.
So very sorry to Susan’s family. She will be missed and not forgotten.
My deepest condolences are with you and your family. Susan’s reach was far and wide, and she continues to inspire me, and so many others.
I am so sorry Curt. My heart hurts for you and your boys.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. Even though I only started reading the blog a couple of weeks ago, I know that Susan was/is amazing. Sending warm thoughts your way from Philly.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. Susan had an amazing spirit.
What a strong, beautiful woman. She has touched so many and our world is a better place for having had her in it.
You and your boys will be in my thoughts.
I am so sorry.
i am deeply moved by her sudden death. May her soul rest in peace
A huge light just went out in my online universe. Susan touched so many of us – she will always be in so many hearts. Love to you all Curt.
I never knew your dear wife. But my sister-in-law has this wicked, wicked cancer, and I thank Susan for making people more aware.
What a lovely, lovely soul.
She was such a wonderful person and an inspiration to all her readers. I am so sorry for your loss. ❤
So sorry for your loss.
So very sorry to hear this news. Susan was a remarkable human being. Best to you and your family.
So sorry for your loss. She was such a wonderful, beautiful person and she will live on in our hearts forever.
My thoughts are with your family at this difficult time.
She was an incredible woman. Taken far too soon. Susan, you made the world a brighter place. I hope you are in a peaceful place now. May everyone who loved her comfort each other. She was one of a kind.
Knowing Susan only through the Internet, her grace and determination to fight until the end was a true testament to her and to your family.
Many thoughts and prayers to you and your boys today and over the coming days and weeks.
She was amazing. I’m so sorry. I’m glad that one day her children will have the reflections she left in her powerful writing here on this blog.
Dear Curt and Family,
My heart is filled with light as I send it out to Susan’s spirit and your family and friends. She was and remains a true shero for me. Thank you for sharing the news of her transition.
My deepest sympathies,
Ananda Leeke
I’m so very sorry for the loss of such a wonderful and courageous woman. I will be keeping your family in my thoughts and prayers.
May she be the brightest star out in space tonight and evermore. Sending you and yours peace.
Curt, Susan put up a hell of a fight. She touched so many of us through the internet. You and your family are never far from my mind. I am so sorry for your loss.
I am so very sorry. I never had the honor of meeting Susan, but have followed her blog over the years. She will always be in my heart, as will her beautiful boys and her loving husband.
Notwithstanding the fact that I never had the opportunity to meet Susan, her words deeply moved me over the years and Susan became an inspiration for me. I’m so so sorry for your family’s loss.
Sending love and hugs. And more love.
Sending love and my deepest sympathy for your loss. I never met Susan but have heard what a wonderful and amazing woman she was and how many people’s lives she touched. Keeping your family in my prayers.
I’m so very sorry, Curt. Susan has touched so many people. My thoughts are with you, the boys and all of your family. Wishing you comfort. Rest in peace, Susan.
I’m so sorry. May her memory be for a blessing.
How heartbreaking. May her memory be a blessing to all of you.
I am so very sorry for your loss. Thinking of your family at this sad time.
I’m so sorry to hear of Susan’s passing. She was a great cheerleader for me this past year as I flailed about trying to get a postdoc in planetary science. I only wish I could have shared with her the good news I recieved last week, which is that I am one of the new NPP fellows at Goddard and thank her for he support and guidance. I will miss her and her good morning tweets in my direction exactly when I needed someone to say hello.
My thoughts are with your family.
My heart is so sad. This is such hard thing to fight. She will always be remembered with fondness… Forever and ever. Hold those boys and light a glassybaby candle. The boys can light them for years to come with her in their souls.
Curt- my family’s thoughts are with yours. Susan was such an amazing person and made such a difference to so many of us. She lives on through her work and through all of you.
My heart and thoughts go out to you and your family…Susan helped me understand the mother I lost to cancer young, understand what she went through and what it meant…i could have never repaid her for this gift.
She truly was an inspiration and a joy. Thank you for sharing her, and thank you Susan. You will be missed by many.
“She is no more”
I feel my eyes wet when say” Good bye”
It is almost heroic attempt or try
It is painful and shatters courage
Tears drop and almost unable to mange
I had seen her since many years
Read her articles regularly and felt in ears
As if melody was aired and heard
It was almost class in itself and last word
Her sentence played a magic around
Charm in every word to be found
Magic spell to bind you together
Eagerness to know without providing a breather
I know she is not present today
Heaven bound journey all the way
We may miss her contribution
Complete change in itself as a revolution
Body may be consigned to flames or buried
But impression and spirit will always be carried
We are mortal but not easy to forget
Her contribution is made everybody to let
I pay great homage and respect
Her name may remain for ever as good act
Almighty had given her a short spell of stay
Today she has give us bye with call of the day
good bye. may the full moon shine brightly over those who love and miss you. rest peacefully now, susan.
My heart goes out to you and your family.
Add me to the list of well wishers. It hurts in a deep place.
A truly amazing person. Her voice and power shall be sorely missed.
Dear Curt, I was introduced to your wife’s blog only a couple of weeks ago. My deepest condolences to you and your children on your most terrible loss.
I am so terribly sorry for your loss. Susan was a remarkable person. Her presence will be missed.
Curt I have never met you, nor have I even been to this blog before. I have never heard of IBC until I was led here due to TONS of people from my facebook circle posting a goodbye to Susan and leading readers here. I can’t and wont pretend to understand your grief, or the loss that you little boys will feel. i can’t tell that Susan was thought of and loved by very many, and that thru things like what brought me here today you and your boys will be in the prayers of those that will know of Susan forever. I was reading this and about Susans love of science and working with NASA when my “miracle” child walked thru the front door holding a second place ribbon. A ribbon for physics he had won at the Science Fair today. There are no words I can say to make it better, and I know you have more than 10 army’s of friends and readers attempting to hold you up right now. So I will offer the 3 most worthless words on the planet because they are all I have. I am sorry.
A bright light flickers and goes out. I’m so sorry, Curt.
My mom used to say that heroes weren’t the people who weren’t afraid, they were the people who were afraid but acted anyway. In Susan’s case, it wasn’t fear but determination. And it was awesome. And so was she. And Curt – reading the How Did We Get Here piece showed what we all knew – what a loving and strong partner you have been. There is not much I can imagine worse than knowing that you have to leave small children behind – and I am so sure that your strength and love made it a little easier – for so clearly are those two kids in beautiful and loving hands.
Goodbye Susan, you were, are, so loved and beloved. Curt, my heart goes out to you and your family. We have lost a wonderful woman here on earth and the firmament has gained a great big shining star, the brightest.
Dear Curt, Sending love and prayers to you all. Susan has made all of our lives so much better—-for many of us, simply by just being out there speaking from the heart. She was such a beautiful gift to the world.
I am so very sorry.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Susan was an inspiration. I’m wishing you and your children much love and strength.
I’m sitting here with tears in my eyes, mourning the loss of a woman I did not know, but I knew from her blog. Her sharing of herself was so generous. She inspired me in so many ways, and I will continue to keep her in my thoughts, prayers and in my heart forever. She changed the way I thought about science; I loved that she was a female scientist! My thoughts and prayers go out to Curt and the boys. I pray that we all remember to live the way Susan would have wanted to continue living, to honor her.
Heartfelt thoughts of support, concern, care for all who love Susan. I ‘met’ her via Twitter and was so inspired by her determination to love her family and press on through her illness. Thank you for sharing her light with us. She inspired so many, both those who know her directly and people like me who only got to know her from afar.
Lifting up Susan and her family in prayer. And sending love to all of you who find your hearts hurting.
I am so sorry for your family’s loss. We are all lucky to have known Susan and I know I will never forget her.
I am so very sorry for your tragic loss. She was an amazing person, who touched so many lives, in so many ways. She will be sadly missed. You are in my prayers Curt. Rest In Peace little one, you are now out of pain.
I am so sorry for the loss of Susan! I will be thinking of her family!
I am so sorry. I have followed Susan’s blog since I was diagnosed in 2009 and although we never met, I feel as though I have lost a dear friend. One of my daughters had written a little story for Susan – a story about how there came to be stars in the night sky. The Goddess of space was shaking sugar sprinkles onto her cup cakes and the sugar crystals fell through the gaps in the floorboard of her house and scattered throughout her garden. The Goddess looked around and decided that her garden was much prettier now it sparkled and she even made some patterns with the crystals – hercules, pisces. We will always remember Susan when we look up into the night sky and see the beautiful stars. We will always be grateful for all that she has done for women facing breast cancer and in particular her campaigning and helping to raise awareness around IBC. She has made a difference to the lives of so very many and she is and will always be an inspiration to me ….and my girls.
Our love to you and your family.
The world was a brighter place because of Susan. We are so terribly grateful that she passed this way.
I’m very sorry for your loss, Curt…
the first time, I came across Susan’s blog was last December when my brother was in the hospital due to withdrawls from pain meds… he was in a bad car wreck 2 years earlier and been on them ever since — coming off of them caused him to have seizures and in the hospital his heart stopped — after being in a coma for 3 days he made a incredible recovery.
It just so happened that Susan was in the hospital at the same time…reading her posts really uplifted me during a difficult time. Now I’m upset, I did not thank her at the time. Obviously, there are thousands just like me who she touched with her blog. She’ll truly be missed.
I am so saddened by this news and send prayers of strength your way.
Thoughts and prayers and love to you and your family.
Praying for you and your family. What an inspiration she was!
Condolences. Susan’s writing, her life, the example she set, her love …. she taught us how we should live.
Curt,
Tonight our prayers are with you and all those who surround you. Susan was and is
an inspiration to thousands of people. When
I look up at the sky and see the stars I will
see her smiling back. She is our star tonight,
I am so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Absolutely heartbreaking. I’m so sorry for your loss.
It is with a heavy heart that I send to you my deepest sympathies and warmest love, to you and your boys. Susan was one of the first bloggers I became completely addicted to! While we didn’t chat personally much, she never wandered far from my thoughts. The world is a sadder place tonight, without her.
Hugs and love from Oklahoma,
Jodie aka Useless_Rambler & family
My thoughts prayers and deepest sympathies are with you and your family. Susan was an amazing writer, a strong and brilliant woman and a resource for many. May your lives be full of beloved memories of her.
We are so desperately sorry for your deep loss. Susan was a blessing to us all.
I have a lovely niece that had IBC for only eight months and passed away at the age of 30. I followed Susan, cheered her on and prayed for her as I would have my niece if she would have lived longer.
Wishing you and your family strength and peace in this difficult time.
Please accept my most sincere condolences. I met her once, at a conference, and she was a pure ray of light. Bless you all at this difficult time. 😦
I am so sorry….
I was blessed to know her through her writing. She will never be forgotten. Thank you for sharing your amazing wife with us all. I’ll pray for your strength throughout. With love, Nanette
I was sitting in the audience of BlogHer 2010 when Susan read her post “In the Name of Awareness.” It was just a few days short of the 5 yr anniversary of the end of my mom’s fight with Breast Cancer. She said so many things that I was thinking and feeling and wishing I could express but didn’t know how. I could barley hold it together during.
I never had the chance to actually meet Susan, but she made an enourmous impression on my life and I have thought of her nearly everyday since. She will be greatly missed and forever admired.
Best,
Missy
Curt, I’ve followed Susan’s blog for some time and she has had a profound impact on me. Her legacy will live on through you and your beautiful sons. I know this will make me and all the rest of the BC community fight that much harder to find a cure for this horrible disease. Sending you love and strength in the days and weeks ahead.
So, so sorry for your loss. Wishing peace to you and your family.
Curt,
I came across the posting in the Physics Department at Washington University that Susan has passed away, and it brought a wave of memories and emotion. It has been years since I last saw Susan, but somehow it seems like she was only just here. I speak for myself and others here when I attest to the positive impact Susan had, and express our deepest condolences for your loss.
Curt–Please accept my heart felt sympathy. My heart goes out to all of you. Susan was such a beacon of light to so many. She may not be here physically, but her strength, perseverance, wit and love of family will not be wasted on us. Many of us will remember her for years to come as we confront obstacles in our own lives. May God bless you for your love and compassion towards her. Please give those boys a hug from all of us.
So sorry – will be praying for you and your family. Love to you all.
I am so sorry for your loss…the world’s loss really. May memories of Susan one day fill you with peace. Wishing you strength (the strength of Susan) to see your family through your grief.
Susan will be missed by so many. I’m better for having had the chance to know her. My thoughts are with your family, Curt.
Words cannot describe the heartache and sorrow we feel for Susan’s family. The congregation of Middle Spring Presbyterian Church in Shippensburg, PA has been lifting Susan, and the whole family, up in prayer since ‘the beginning’ of this horrific ordeal. We know the grief for Maury & Pat is overwhelming as they have lost their precious child. We are not to question God’s will, but, as mortals, we do. We will continue to pray for Curt, the boys, and the whole family as they struggle to adjust to Susan’s passing. She surely will be watching over her young sons for eternity. Susan is now a part of the Lord’s heavenly choir of angels. May God’s grace help to guide you all to a peace that having had Susan in your lives, though briefly, was wonderful beyond imagination. With Sincerest Sympathy.
Dick & Shirley Weller
Susan was such an inspiration. And I don’t see that ending now that she is gone. Her voice will continue.
Thank you for sharing her with us.
I’m so so sorry. I have never met Susan and I am in tears. So much love to you and the boys. You have A LOT of people in your corner. xo
Oh, no. I had only just begun to know and love Susan; we talked frankly about pain management once and I was so very impressed with her courage and strength. I can’t imagine how those of you who knew and loved her best must feel; I’m so terribly sorry for your loss.
So very sorry to hear about Susan. She had such vivid light and such awesome strength about her, and she will be missed so much by our blogging community. Sending tons of love to your family…
I only knew your wife for 2 weeks. A childhood friend of her’s asked us to pray for her during a new Bible study, and I looked her blog up after that. I truly cannot express how moved I was by her words, and I have been praying for her ever since. Please know that I will now be lifting you and your precious kids up in prayer, as I know it’s so difficult.
Love in Christ,
Amy Aarhus
I’m very sorry to hear this. What a remarkable lady this woman was-God bless her and her family.
My God, so sad to hear this. Love to you and the boys.
So sad for you and your family. She was an inspiration.
Curt,
You and your two sweet boys are and have been in my prayers. I’m so glad that she knew Goodbye is not forever!
I only very recently found your wife online but so many people I love and respect held her in the highest esteem. My thoughts and prayers are with you during your loss.
“When my husband died, because he was so famous and known for not being a believer, many people would come up to me – it still sometimes happens – and ask me if Carl changed at the end and converted to a belief in an afterlife. They also frequently ask me if I think I will see him again. Carl faced his death with unflagging courage and never sought refuge in illusions. The tragedy was that we knew we would never see each other again. I don’t ever expect to be reunited with Carl. But, the great thing is that when we were together, for nearly twenty years, we lived with a vivid appreciation of how brief and precious life is. We never trivialized the meaning of death by pretending it was anything other than a final parting. Every single moment that we were alive and we were together was miraculous – not miraculous in the sense of inexplicable or supernatural. We knew we were beneficiaries of chance… That pure chance could be so generous and so kind… That we could find each other, as Carl wrote so beautifully in Cosmos, you know, in the vastness of space and the immensity of time… That we could be together for twenty years. That is something which sustains me and it’s much more meaningful…
The way he treated me and the way I treated him, the way we took care of each other and our family, while he lived. That is so much more important than the idea I will see him someday. I don’t think I’ll ever see Carl again. But I saw him. We saw each other. We found each other in the cosmos, and that was wonderful.” – Ann Druyan
I am so, so sorry.
Prayers to the entire family. I am so sorry for your loss.
I am so profoundly sorry for your loss. I am a breast cancer patient as well. I am praying for strength and serenity for your family for your difficult journey without Susan.
Curt
I grew up with your wife in Jackson MS. She was our captain on our STATE CHAMPIONSHIP Quiz Bowl team. Man she was a star! (You already knew that brother.) Please send me detalls on arrangements dejuanhendricks@hotmail.com. If you NEED ANYTHING please reach out to me. You have my prayers at the least Curt!
I am so sorry for your loss. My 28 year old cousin is fighting IBC as we speak. Prayers to your family during this time.
Thank you for being brave enough to share your story with the world through your blog. Thank you for making me appreciate my children, and my very life, a great deal more. Thank you for doing so much to make the world know about IBC. Thank you for being an amazing wife, mom, and astrophysicist. You will be missed by so, so many. My heart goes out to Curt, their sons, and all her loved ones – she is an amazing, wonderful woman and will always be remembered as such. RIP.
So sorry for your loss. Susan was truly an amazing person and has left her legacy.
So, so sorry. It was an honor to have known Susan. A star shines brighter tonight.
I am so sorry.
I am sorry for your loss. Susan will be very missed and I will be thinking of your family.
I am so sad to hear this. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your boys. What a remarkable woman she was, she touched so many.
Susan taught us all so many lessons about living a life that is full and taking joy in every moment. She will be missed but we will continue to keep her memory alive. Peace be with you, Curt.
My deepest condolences to you and your family. I knew Susan for years, from junior high through graduation in 1991. She was an amazing person, and a good friend. She will be deeply missed.
My thoughts are with your family. I lost my mother to cancer when I was 2, and my heart breaks for your babies. I know you will keep her alive for them in the stories you tell. Sending you my love.
Susan was amazing. I remember a post she wrote about Legos a few years ago… I responded with a question and she replied almost instantly. I felt like a rock star had reached out to me. We all know that she WAS a star. She made a difference in my life for many reasons and I am so thankful to have known of her, to have read her words, and to still be able to do so. She will always inspire me and others.
I am so sorry for your loss.
IM all the way over In Australia sitting in my kitchen with my baby asleep and two boys at school its quiet and sorta lonely and tears are pouring down my my face. My heart started to thump out my chest when I read this.
I really thought Suzanne may come back from this I clung to that first paragraph were she said “before we can resume any kid of treatment”
Im so very sorry to you Curt that you have lost this incredible, inspiring women. She was so unbelivably wonderful she even chroniclaed all this for her boys so that they could look back on her words and fighting spirit for years to come. What a Gift that they will treasure through out there lives.
I pray for you guys that you are surrounded in love and coninue to draw strength from the wonderful suzzane, I know I always will.
Im in shock.
Thank you Suzane for making me want to be a better mother, wife and for making me want to stop and smell the roses. Because life is so so beautiful.
Will miss your words more than I can say
Elesha
What an inspiration. Her legacy will live on. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family Curt. My deepest sympathy, Shannon (Dermody) Taugher
I am so incredibly sorry for your loss. I hope you know that this community is here for you and your sons. Anything you need, if it is within our power, we will give you. All you have to do is ask.
I wish we could give her back to you.
I’m just discovered this blog recently and I wish I had found it sooner. Susan sounds like an amazing woman. So sorry for your loss.
Thoughts and prayers with you all.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I didn’t know Susan, but learned so much from her blog….about life, love, cancer, raising boys, etc. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Oh no, oh no, oh no…
In the midst of all she was going through, Susan showed such kindness to me, a complete stranger, who wrote her with my own (small) concerns post-treatment… I will never, ever forget that, or her.
I am so, SO sorry to hear this news, and so very, very sorry for your loss.
So very very sorry. Many thoughts and prayers.
I know you are feeling such a jumble of emotions right now, but among them I hope you are feeling relief that Susan is no longer suffering, pride in being her partner in the fight to stay with her family as long as she could, and appreciation for all the precious memories she left behind for you to share with your boys when the time is right. So many people will be grieving her loss, and I truly hope you find some comfort in knowing how many lives she touched.
My deepest condolences to your family. She seemed extraordinary and I pray for your peace. God bless.
Chere
She will be greatly missed….so very sorry…
My heart goes out to you Curt and to the boys, as well as to to Susan’s many friends and family. I echo Elesha, who says above that she is a better mother for having known Susan. What has impressed me over the years and what I hope to always carry with me is the importance of critical thinking in advocacy so that we make sure our efforts have the most impact, and the beautiful way she dedicated herself to her two great loves – her family and her work. You are all in my thoughts tonight.
Wishing your graceful family love. I am so sorry.
Susan was an inspiration and always will be for those lives she touched through her words on this blog. Praying for you and your family.
I can’t believe this… Thankfully now she is at perfect peace. We will miss her. Thank you for sharing her us. You and your family are in our thoughts.
There are no words to describe how sincerely sorry I am for your loss. Curt, my prayers go out to you, the boys and the rest of your family.
So very sorry for your loss. Rest in Peace Susan xx
I am so sorry for your loss and your family’s loss. I’m grateful for everything Susan shared with her readers here — her story, her grace, and her strength.
Wishing you strength and peace…
I am sitting here crying for a woman I have never met,but knew her through her writing. I loved that she was a woman that loved space,my husband is into astronomy and I have first hand knowledge how rare a woman in her field is,I loved that she was a mom so am i , I loved she loved special needs people ,2 of my 4 sons is on the spectrum, I loved her writing ,her brain,her thoughts,what she loved and knew to be important. My prayer are for her family ,her husband, her kids. I am sorry for us all,:You will be missed ! The Cranes Gloria,Chris
Oh I just want to stomp my feet and scream through my tears – NO! I don’t want her to be gone. I hate when Mommies have to leave so soon. It’s just not fair.
Curt, your family will be forever in my prayers.
So Sorry for you and the children, a reader
Sending you such love. I’m so sorry that her journey ended so soon. She will be missed and remembered.
Love to you, Widget and Little Bear. Susan was an incredibly special person and she will be missed by many, most of all you. I pray that her strength and the strength of those who loved her will support you in the days and weeks to come.
She is at peace now though it hardly justifies any of it. What a wonderful woman whom I only knew via the blog world. Cannot imagine the void in your lives now. Sending love to you during this very very hard time. She helped me cope with my own anxieties over being a young mother facing cancer and for that I am eternally grateful. A true role model for everyone to gleam hope and wisdom from and an icon for breast cancer awareness.
When our time on earth is over, we should all be able to look back and know we made a difference…and Susan did…in a short time. Your boys will grow knowing they are a wonderful legacy of a special person…and how dearly loved they are.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I will continue to pray for you and your children. Please know she really touched so many hearts–but you know that. She was a remarkable woman.
I am so truly saddened to hear that her time came. I’m finding comfort in that she has no more pain or suffering. Sending love to you Curt, and the boys, I am so glad for all the time you had together.
I’m so terribly sorry. What a tremendous difference she made.
I’ve been watching this blog, refreshing every day and hoping for a miracle. I’m heartbroken for you and your family. Susan was a bright light, and I hope your many happy memories will help you and your boys through this very difficult time. Like so many others, I didn’t know Susan but was touched by her bravery, her honesty and her sense of humor.
I am so very sorry 😦
I was expecting this but still have a hard time accepting the finality of this. So sorry for your loss and my best wishes to you and the boys.
there aren’t words, only hugs and tears.
Thank you for allowing us to share.
I am so sorry for your loss. We will miss Susan, her honesty, her strength and her words… and it is not, I am sure, the smallest fraction of how much you and the boys will miss her.
Goodbye is a word whispered daily in the heart.
All my sympathy to you, Curt, and your families. I have IBC too and someday Susan’s story will be mine. I only hope I can display her incredible grace, dignity, and courage. Best wishes to you and your sons on this terribly sad journey.
I’m so very sorry. May her memory be for a blessing.
I am so very sorry for your loss.
Love, peace, and continued strength to you, your boys, and your family. Susan seemed like an amazing woman and she left such a wonderful legacy. What a gift.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I’ve been reading Susan’s blog for the last year or two and was always amazed at her optimism, strength, and love for her family. You and your family will be in our prayers.
One of my best friends started chemo today (her birthday). I’m sorry for your loss but am glad to see you honor Susan like this.
I’m so sorry to hear this. My prayers are with you and your family.
Susan began her initial treatment at the same time my mom was going through treatment. I drew strength from her. My heart goes out to you, her family. May God bless you and give you strength.
May you and your boys be surrounded by love right now.
I only new Susan on line. Her posts always moved me. I am so sorry for your loss.
Sending you love, light, and peace.
Curt, my heart is breaking for you and your children this evening. There are no words to share with you how saddened I am by the loss of Susan. I met her at BlogHer ’10, having been a reader of her blog, and she was truly so gracious and warm and inspiring. She will never, ever be forgotten.
Curt, my deepest sympathy to you and your family at this difficult time. May Susan’s memory be for a blessing and give you strength to continue.
I am so sorry. Loving you all from afar.
I am so deeply sorry and sad. It was a privilege to know, and finally! meet in person, this wonderful woman.
May you find strength in knowing her impact on so very many people. Love to you and the boys.
Sarah/Slouchy
[…] by emily on February 6, 2012 Susan Niebur died today. […]
Mu sister Wendy (a 2 year breast cancer survivor) and I send our deepest sympathies to you, Curt, and to your two boys. A huge community is grieving with you.
I never met Susan, but I read this blog like she was a dear friend. I love the way she loved her children and family – and will never forget her humor, honesty and courage. Much love and prayers to her family and friends….
I am so sorry to hear of your loss. My thoughts are with you and your family during this time of sorrow.
Love and comfort to you and yours. I’m very sorry for your great loss.
I didn’t know Susan personally, but I’ve been reading her blog for years. I admired her so much. I can’t fathom being in her shoes. But I hope she felt all the love that was directed at her for these past few weeks. My thoughts and prayers will stay with Susan and her family through this difficult time.
Amy
I am so very sorry. She made a difference in the lives of so many. Love to you and the boys.
What an amazing man you are to come here and let us know what has happened and to do so with such grace and strength. I’m so sorry for you and your family. You will all be in my thoughts.
[…] on another friend’s FB page that Susan aka @whymommy had lost her battle with cancer and a goodbye note was posted on her blog, Toddler Planet. My heart immediately broke into a thousand […]
I’m so sorry. She was amazing. Your family is in my prayers and in my heart..
You are all in my prayers. I’ll be thinking of you during this difficult time.
deepest sympathies to your family.
I only first read of Susan and her battle a few weeks ago. What a courageous fight from a brilliant lady. Prayers and peace to those she leaves behind.
I remember when I met her in an Francisco … I’ll never forget her grace and kindness. Shine on Susan, you are a ray of sunshine.
Curt, may you find strength in knowing how she has touched and inspired so many people. Bless you, and the family.
I am so, so sorry for your loss.
Goodbye Whymommy. Thoughts and prayers for your family.
[…] Rachel of The Cancer Culture Chronicles and Susan of Toddler Planet […]
Curt, thanks for letting us know
I only found this blog a few weeks ago, via a mention on Twitter. I read the Jan 22nd entry and have been checking back daily ever since. Both Susan as a person, and her beautiful and painful story, compelled me in a way that most others have not. I wish I had read something different today, but I can tell you that, in the short time that I “knew” her, she impacted my life. My heart aches for you and your sons.
May the grace, peace, comfort, and mercy of Jesus Christ fill you and your boys now and always.
She touched so many. Thank you for letting her touch me. Peace to all of you.
I was so sorry to read of Susan’s passing. What a special woman. It was an honor to “know” her just by reading this blog. Praying for you, you precious boys and all who loved Susan.
I met Susan last summer at the TypeA conference in Asheviile. We spoke as my son who has Aspergers is very interested in the science topics she knew. She was so positive and kind and generous with her thoughts on how to steer him in the right direction. What a very lovely person. God bless her family.
I am so sorry!
Sending my thoughts and prayers to susans family her bravery and strength was a true inspiration. I pray u find comfort in your memories of Susan
So sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers are with your family.
I am so sorry for your loss, like many I was hoping for a miracle.
So very sad to hear of Susan’s passing. I have been thinking about her constantly for weeks. I am working on the elementary school science fair, and now I do so in her honor. Wishing all her family comfort and condolences, she was an inspiring, amazing women who will never be forgotten, even by those of us who had never met her. xo
May God bless and keep you, and yours.
I am so sorry. Sending my thoughts and prayers to you and your family.
When I saw the title of the post…….my heart did a flip flop. My first thought was, “Oh no!”. To say that a total stranger influenced so many would be a truth! My heart and prayers are with you, Widget and LIttle Bear, and the rest of the family and friends as you heal from this loss of Susan!
I’m so very sorry for your loss. Praying God’s comfort for you as you grieve in the hope of the resurrection.
I’m very sorry to hear that.
I never met Susan, but I’ve been a reader of this blog for years. I really admired her honesty and sense of humor, and her passion for science (and for passing that along to Widget and Little Bear, and helping other parents to do the same). I wish your family the best.
My deepest sympathies to you and your family. Susan was an inspiration to so many, and I was so glad to have known her.
Words simply cannot express how truly sorry I am for your loss. Susan was an amazing woman. She touched so many lives with her blog and her honest writing. I’m sure her work to bring awareness about IBC has helped countless women. I will keep your family in my thoughts and prayers.
Deepest sympathies ~ Chris Ann & Kristin
I’m so terribly sorry for your loss – yours and your boys’. Wish it could have been different.
I am so, so, so sorry. I will miss Susan everyday.
Susan was an amazing person and through her writing and fighting for all of us she really made a difference. I am so sad, but at the same time I am inspired and committed to keeping the fight.
My prayers go out to you and your family.
Peace
So terribly sorry, Curt. Susan was such a terrific voice, one that will be missed forever. Only thing I can come up with is a Lamartine quote that says it all: “Sometimes when one person is missing, the whole world seems depopulated.” Flights of angels, Susan. And loving kindness from the living for you, Curt, and for your kids.
My deepest sympathies to Susan’s family and friends. She has touched so many lives through her words.
I’m so very sorry for your family. Susan will forever be on the minds of legions of women who only had the pleasure of knowing her through her beautiful words. I know that she taught me so much about IBC and I will always remember her and what she taught us — to always be an advocate for our health and bodies. My thoughts are prayers are with your entire family.
What an inspiration Susan was. Today is a sad day. Thank you, Curt, for letting us know. My deepest sympathy to you and your family.
Deepest condolences. I will miss Susan’s writing terribly, and I will think of her, and of all of you, regularly.
I am so, so sorry. I’m in tears. I can’t imagine your sorrow. Love to you and your family.
My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
I am sorry to hear about Susan’s passing she is in a place of peace and love and will be around in the beautiful things that surround you each and every day.
So saddened to hear of her passing. Her presence left so many sparks of light and hope in every one of our hearts. She touched us all, even if we never met person to person. I hope someday her little one will see how much of a difference she made, and that she still remains in all of us.
So much love to yall. ❤
I am so very sorry. So, so sorry. I only knew Susan through her blog but she touched my life and I’m very sad to learn she is gone. Thinking of you and your family.
I joined this story only in the last year, but am so inspired by Susan and this entire community. Love and hugs to you all.
I am so sorry for your deep loss. May God’s peace cover you in this time. Prays to you all.
Warm thoughts to you and your family. I only recently found Susan and her warmth and positivity has made me look at my life differently. Thank you all for sharing her journey with us.
I grieve the loss of Susan, who I never met but inspired me through her humor, honesty, and beautiful words. Heaven is a lucky place tonight.
Much love to you and the boys. Susan was a rock star.
I wish this was hello, not goodbye. A sincere, if only virtual, hug of love and support for Susan, Curt, and their kids. x
So sorry you’re gone. I will miss you. What a shiny, loving, talented person, really unforgettable. ❤
So heartbreaking!!! so, so sorry. She will be missed beyond measure.
This breaks my heart. Heaven received an angel today, no doubt. I’m sure everyone here agrees that Susan taught us all something. What a wonderful person, wife, and mama. I will never forget her strength.
I’m so devastated for all of you. Susan inspired me every day.
Good rest and Godspeed, Susan!
This makes me so sad – Susan will be greatly missed 😦
[…] Niebur, the author of “Toddler Planet- The Joy of Life After Cancer” was a mother of 2 boys ages 4 & 6 and an astrophysicist. She was an avid blogger and was front […]
So sorry for your loss.
I’m so sorry for your loss. I didn’t know her, but her story is inspiring and she touched many people.
[…] I ask that you just read one post, visit one blog, this week. Susan’s husband wrote a post about her passing today, Goodbye. […]
I’m so sorry for your loss. 😦 Things can be so unfair.
Oh my Lord. I am so sorry so sorry — she was a shining star on this earth. Praying for all who loved her so but special special prayers for her family. I honestly don’t have any eloquent words to say except my heartfelt condolences and sympathy.
I am so sorry.
I’m so sorry. I only knew Susan through Twitter but she inspired me every day with her courage, fortitude, and unending love for her family. I am praying for you and your sweet boys. Much love to you all!
Such a Beautiful Spirit! Curt – your post today was a divine tribute to Susan’s and your strength and courage. What a Gift to this Planet you both are.
Wishing you and your family, Blessings of Love, Light & Peace.
Selina
I am so sorry for your loss….the worlds loss.
Susan was and is a light to the world. I haven’t been following her blog as long as many but I can say this for sure, your wife was an inspiration to me and gave an outlook on life to stay strong and on the course in spite of pain and struggle. She will be missed by so many as she has touched all our hearts. Thank you Susan for the gift of your life and light.
I am so, so, so sorry. My love to all whom Susan loved.
So deeply sorry for your loss! Thoughts & prayers go out to you & your family 😦
I am in tears for you and your family. She was an amazing woman, who seemed to keep her spirits up in the face of all things. She will be missed greatly by a whole world. *gentle hugs* as you adjust to this new life you are about to embark on.
Thinking of your family and wishing Susan peace.
I am so very sorry for your loss. I have been reading this blog for a while and Susan is such an inspiration.I don’t know what I can add to what has already been said but please know I am praying for you and your family to have comfort and strength.
I am so sorry for your loss! I met Susan by networking on Twitter and quickly realized that astrophysics was one small dimension of her life. She taught so many of us about motherhood, love, perseverance and STRENGTH…and I am so fortunate for having known her.
Curt, I’m so so so so sorry. Susan was one of a kind and I hope someday it won’t hurt to read the many messages from friends and strangers who feel drawn to you and your family. I know as a caretaker how stressful and lonely it can be. Thank you for everything you did and continue to do for Susan and your family.
Thank you Susan for opening your life and your struggle so openly to so many. I wish you peace and I hope your family finds comfort in knowing how many you effected.
Much Love,
Whitney
I am sorry for your loss.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. I hope that your happy memories of Susan will give you a measure of peace through this very difficult time. My prayers are with you & your family.
Curt, I wish you and your family much peace and comfort. Know that Susan is in your future, not in your past. She taught many how to truly live and love.
Sorrowfully,
mas
Sending my condolences to all of you. Susan was a truly exceptional person.
I’m so very sorry for your loss. I had only been reading Susan for a little while, but I will never forget her courage and hope in fighting this disease.
So very, very sorry to hear about your loss. May God comfort you and your family.
I am so very, very sorry for your loss. Susan will be dearly missed. Much love to you all.
xoxo
My deepest, heartfelt condolences. Susan was an inspiration to us all. Thank you for sharing your life with us. God bless you.
May God hold you and the boys extra close tonight. I’m oh, so sorry for your loss. God bless everyone in your family, and your friends as you start this new journey.
I am so very sorry for your loss. She was a one-of-a-kind lady.
My heart is heavy. I’m so sorry for your loss. Her fight was a true inspiration for this survivor.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Susan was so amazing and inspiring, and she touched so many people (and will continue to do so even if she’s not physically still here with us). Thoughts and prayers for you and your family tonight for peace and comfort, and lots of memories of the good times.
I am so, so sad to hear this news. She has been in my thoughts and prayers for so long now. You and your sweet boys will be on my mind and in my prayers. Virtual hugs to everyone feeling a Susan sized hole in their lives right now.
Bless you and your entire family…thank you for sharing Susan with us.
Peace to you and your boys. I am so very sorry. I enjoyed reading Susan’s writing very much.
Susan was and will remain an amazing inspiration to those of us who knew her, both I’m her fighting spirit and in her ability to lift us up regardless of her health. Much love & support from our family to yours.
I only recently learned about Susan and just how deeply she has affected the blogging community. Her beautiful attitude and amazing legacy has touched so many, and she will be dearly missed. I’m sorry for your loss, but I hope that all of these words above mine will bring you and your family an ounce of peace as your hearts heal.
I am so sorry for your loss. Your family is in my thoughts. Rest assured that Susan’s courage will continue to inspire!
It is hard to know the right thing to say. “I’m sorry” seems so inconsequential for such a substantial loss. I am sorry though, for your great loss, for the road of grief that you must travel, for this awful disease that robs so many of so much. My deepest prayers are with you and your sweet little boys. May God be near to you now, nearer than you have ever known him to be. May his arms embrace you even as they literally hold your beautiful wife right now.
Curt, I’m so sorry. As someone already said, it is so good to know that Susan had you by her side and had the comfort of knowing you are such a wonderful father to your little boys. I hold a special place in my heart for Susan’s parents, and yours (I’m the mother of young adults and grandma of two little boys). Peace and love to all of you, forever.
she will be missed, so very very much, but her lessons [those precious gifts to us] will keep her legacy alive
I am so sorry for your loss. Susan was such a graceful and inspirational woman.
I am so sorry for your family’s loss. Susan’s writing has touched me since I first found her blog, right after her first diagnosis. Her marvelous enthusiasm for science and her love for her children and husband brightened my world. Almost five years ago, a neighbor was diagnosed with kidney cancer, and it was with Susan in mind that I helped arrange child care, meals, visitors, and help. Because I live across the country from you and Susan, I couldn’t help YOU, but I could help my neighbor in Susan’s name.
I am so sorry.
Susan taught us all how to live with dignity and grace; how to live every minute to its fullest. The world is a much better place because of her and we will all mourn her passing and miss her dearly. I so looked forward to her blog and cheered for her for each and every accomplishment. May all who knew and loved her find comfort in the memories of her life as she shared it so openly with us.
So sorry. What a beautiful soul she is.
Curt, my prayers are with you and your boys. I will be remembering you and your family. Strength and peace be yours.
Elizabeth
[…] Goodbye Susan Niebur passed away on February 6, 2012 after a lifetime of love, crusades, and strength. Over the last five years she lived with inflammatory breast cancer, a rare and aggressive form of br… […]
Bless you all. So sorry to hear this. You’ll be in my prayers.
Love to all of Susan’s family and loved ones. Her life touched more people than any of you can imagine. Wishing all of you peace.
I am heartbroken for you, the kids,… actually all of us. The universe has shifted a bit today.
Curt, my deepest condolences to you and the boys. I was touched by your words. Susan was amazing. Please know that you can continue to reach out to her bloggy friends. I will post of her passing and ask for donations to the fund. I will contribute as well.
So sad to read the news. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
I never met you or your family. But I got to know you through Susan’s words on her blog. And tonight I cry for you and your family. I am deeply sorry for your loss. Susan was an extraordinary woman that touched us all.
Many prayers for you and your sons and Susan’s friends and family.
Sending all of my thoughts and prayers.
So sorry… sending love to your whole family.
So sorry and sad for all of Susan’s family and friends. She inspired me and all her readers.
Linda
Curt,
I’ve been quietly reading your wife’s blog for years – since I stumbled upon it having had a similar scare with my then newborn and 2 year old son (they are 4 and 6 now). As my children aged along with yours, her story impacted me beyond measure, but I was most touched by how she was helping her boys through this time and how she tried to prepare her family.
She was a remarkable woman and you three were heroes in your own right. I am so shocked and saddened by the news as I expected that at any moment this would all turn around.
My prayers will continue to be with all of you.
My thoughts are with your family. She will be missed!
My prayers are with you and the boys. Susan was such an inspiration to me as a fellow IBC sister.
I DM’d her not long ago to check up on her but didn’t hear back. But didn’t think for one minute that she was near death, only taking care of herself. I just wanted to touch base, tell her I remembered. Tell her I was thinking of her.
I’m so very, very sorry.
My heart breaks for you, your kids and all of your loving family & friends. While I did not know Susan, I can tell she has made an everlasting mark on this earth. You’re in my thoughts.
I am so sorry for your loss. I’ve been inspired and awed by Susan’s strength and her writing. I had the pleasure of meeting her when our oldest boys were babies. She was an amazing person.
Susan’s wonderful writing and talking about IBC has unleashed a wildfire of action and understanding that I believe will never subside.
What was clear to us all, though, was that her love for you and for her babies was an even brighter, truer flame in her life.
With great hope for your healing.
I am so sorry for your loss.
I am so very sorry for your loss. Sending many prayers for comfort & peace to you, your boys, & all who loved Susan. She was a true inspiration & light for many.
I am so very sorry Curt. I’ve been thinking of you all so much these last few weeks. My heart is with you all.
Was just talking about you guys yesterday with some of the Leining family at my newest nephew’s baptism. There is lots of love and prayers coming from Clinton County. And many from here STL too.
*Lisa (Detmer) Bertrand
My deepest condolences…
Dear Curt,
My prayer was that you and the boys didn’t have to say goodbye this soon. I am relieved, however, that she is at peace and painfree. What a brave woman she was and how dedicated to the cause of advancing the research regarding this BEAST. She did absolutely everything she could have humanly done to fight and she fought till the last with dignity and grace and transparency.
I will make a contribution to the ICBRF in Susan’s name and will continue to make a difference somewhere, anywhere, to anyone.
Ruthie from California
I am a long-time lurker here on Susan’s blog. I have been inspired by her talents, her upbeat voice in the face of devastating trials, her obvious love for her family, her powerful words in appealing to cancer research and treatment, and her faith. Susan is the kind of woman I wish I could be. One I would like to become. My heart aches for those who know her personally and who had found a lifelong friend. My faith in God allows me to believe in forever families and a beautiful reunion with loved ones in the next life. If anyone deserves that kind of reunion, it is Susan and her sweet family. Prayers your way!
She touched me and so many others… her bright smile speaks of her depth of humanity and that is what first attracted me to follower her on twitter. It didn’t take long to recognize a quality human being following me back.
I am deeply sorry that her battle is over and wish I could offer you more than these words; I hold you and your family in my loving thoughts. Lucy West
I am so very sorry for your loss.
i am sorry for your loss, your wife is a person that touched many and i am glad to have been able to feel her embrace, see her smile and hear her words. my heart and prayers go to you, your children and your families in this time. her warrior heart will remain present for me, for many.
Curt,
Just wanted to say… I remember mom cutting out your wedding announcement years ago. She’d saved it for me so when I’d visited her, I could see. I remember feeling so happy for you as I read the write-up. Also, in seeing the photo of you and Susan, so in love and happy, I remember thinking, “She must be a really incredible woman to have secured his heart.” And then, through the blogosphere I got to know her. To no surprise, I was lucky enough to see for myself just how incredible and beautiful she was. Am so grateful I got the privilege to get to know her in this way.
Just wanted to share that.
I am so sorry. Reading Susan’s words the last few years I came to see a strong wonderful amazing woman….. The world is a sadder place.
may she rest, gorgeous and whole. Love and light to you and yours, Curt.
rest well, sweet Susan
Blessings and condolences to you and your family, Curt.
I found these words about life’s journey by C.P. Cavafey to be especially renewing after the loss of my loved one.
http://www.ithaka.org/poem
Be well,
Sarah
Curt, I’m one of those people who was touched by Susan, only having known her by her blog. I was awed by her strength and her straightforward expression. I hope for healing and love for you and your family.
I’m so so so very sorry for your loss. It is all our loss, too. She was indeed a brightly shining star. My thoughts are with you and your family.
Susan was a treasure. I ache to my depth for you… Peace be with you in the coming days.
What a treasure Susan was as an activist, scientist, speaker and mentor, but I will forever remember her as a friend and fellow working mother. She was so much to so many, and you and the boys will always have the local DC Moms — both the local community and the blogging community — by your side however and whenever you need us. We love your family dearly.
She will be missed by so many people. Praying for you and the kids and sending my sympathy.
I am so very sorry for your loss.
Love to you and yours. Susan was such an inspiration. What an incredible woman.
Tears.
I’m so very, very sorry.
I’m so sorry, Chris. My thoughts are with you, the kids and your families.
I feel honored to have known Susan back in college, and am so sad for you and your family with this loss. She was an amazing person, and clearly touched so many people’s lives with her positivity during all her struggles. Her legacy will live on in so many ways.
My little girls said a prayer for Susan tonight and we also talked about the two little boys who lost their mommy. They would like to tell the boys that they send warm friendly thoughts to them – though warm thoughts will never replace a mommy. No words can express the sorrow and sadness but Susan leaves an incredible legacy that survives her. When the skies clear out after the rain, I’ll look up and search for a new star above. Rest in peace Susan.
I’m so sorry to hear of her passing. Her struggle and her story has affected and inspired so many of us. You family has our sympathy more than words can say.
Oh, Curt, I am so sorry to hear of Susan’s passing. I am praying that the Lord will uphold and strengthen you all. May He hold you close and give you His comfort and peace. As for Susan, she is just beginning to enter into the joy and awe of our amazing Creator. “You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.” Psalm 16:11. “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his faithful servants.” Psalm 116:15. Susan definitely qualifies. 🙂 Praying for your family. Thank you for letting us know.
When I picture grace and strength, i will think of Susan. Thoughts and prayers to you, the boys and your family and friends. My life was touched by Susan’s.
I’m so sorry to hear this news. Much love to you all.
[…] while your two small boys stand by.There are no words except goodbye, because today our community lost one of our lights and tonight my world is darker because of it.Susan – @whymommy – you were loved. And […]
Sending cyber sympathies ~blessings~ for you and yours…
Fairy sorry for your loss…
I am very sorry for your loss. I pray you and your family can find peace.
I am so very sorry for your loss. Susan lit up the world with her words and her actions. What a legacy she left.
I am anguished. Such a loss for family, friends, colleagues … I read each of her posts with a heart both heavy and hopeful, watching months roll by. I learned so much here. It is so hard to say goodbye to someone who you saw as a fellow traveler with chronic illness. I am sad, but draw encouragement from the example of her life. It lets me know I can continue on after this loss, even if I don’t want to acknowledge a world without her. Cancer has taken a friend away, but it can’t take her legacy. Which sounds so sappy, but it gives me some comfort tonight.
Goodbye Susan. You are already missed.
This is so sad. I will miss Susan’s wonderful voice. May God bless you and your boys.
Curt, Susan will be greatly missed by us, but I know she will be missed so much more greatly by you who knew her every minute. I will continue to pray for you and your boys, your families and closest of friends. May the peace that passes understanding wrap you in His arms as you grieve.
-t
Prayers with you all. I am so sorry.
this just breaks my heart. my deepest condolences to her family. susan was so inspirational. i’ve created a memorial button in her honor available here:
http://crayonfreckles.blogspot.com/2012/02/blogging-world-lost-amazing-woman-today.html
The words sound empty to my own ears, but they come from the bottom of my heart: I am so, so sorry for your loss.
Wishing you and your family comfort and peace in the coming days and months.
Karen
I’m so sorry for your (and that of everyone who was touched by Susan in some way) loss. I will be thinking of you and your family.
Jim and I have you and your boys in our prayers. We are so sad to hear this today. So blessed to have met the both of you at the retreat last year. The love and support you have displayed those few days will forever be in our thoughts.
God Bless you Curt, stay strong!
Very Sincerely, Tammy & James Dean
I’m so very sorry for your loss. I met Susan once at a conference, and she struck me as extraordinarily kind and full of light.
It’s never Goodbye, Susan. Only Cya.
I am so sorry. You are all in my heart tonight
❤ my beautiful friend.
Typing through my tears…
The world lost a bright shining star tonight, but more than that a family lost a wife and a mother. I will be holding you all close in my heart in the difficult days to come, and hope that you are able to draw a measure of strength from knowing all the lives Susan touched in her far too short but so very remarkable life.
I am so sad about the loss of such an amazing woman. Prayers for peace for WhyDaddy and their sweet boys.
So very sorry for your loss. I have been following Susan’s journey since not long after she was first diagnosed. Such a beautiful beautiful woman. Love and prayers to you and your family.
Thank you for posting so quickly during your own grief, she was an amazing woman, but backed by an amazing man. I am sorry for your lose and will be routing for you in the future with your boys.
Thank you for sharing. RIP Susan.
I am so very sorry for the loss of such an amazing woman from your life and that of your sons. May you be surrounded by love in this difficult time. Rest in Peace, Susan.
Susan taught me to dance in the rain – and I still do! Much love to everyone close to Susan. She’s an incredible woman and her love will continue to brighten many doorsteps.
There is a vast hole in the universe tonight.
Tomorrow, I will choose to make a difference to someone, anyone, from somewhere. I like to think I’ll know it when I see it…the opportunity to celebrate Susan in a way that was so her. I regret never meeting her in person…my deepest sympathies to her husband and her beautiful children. When I heard the news tonight, I immediately thought of “Landscape of the Heart” (Story People by Brian Andreas) :
” It is still so new & all we see is the empty space,
but that is not how it is in the landscape of the heart.
There, there is no empty space & she still laughs &
grapples with ideas & plans & nods wisely
with each of us in turn.
We are proud to have known her
. We are proud to have called her friend.”
I am so sorry for the loss. Mother, wife,
daughter, friend. So sorry.
Susan contributed more to the greater good than most people do in twice the time. Sending love and gratitude across the ether, to her and to you.
I am so very sorry, so grateful to have read her words, so fervently wishing your family comfort at this incredibly difficult time. Thank you for sharing.
Thank you, Susan.
The world seems so quiet today.
So sorry for your loss, praying for your family during this difficult time.
Light and love to everyone. I am grateful to have read her words.
There are no words to describe my sadness. Though I never met Susan and live very far away, in Israel, her determination, wisdom and love for her family had a great impact on me. When she described the wonderful projects she did with her little boys, and how they simply cuddled, even when she was so ill and busy doing so many other things, she inspired me to spend more quality and quantity time with my own little boys. I pray your family will find comfort.
Goodbye Susan, you don’t know me but I read yr blog silently for sometime, you’ve fought a good fight & finished the race and even though it saddens most of us here to part ways like this, I’ll still keep your blog in my favourites. You’re the 2nd one with the bigC I’ve had to whisper Goodbye with a heavy heart this week, but that is how Life ends with. RIP
Deepest condolence to Curt & family.
missyc – Malaysia
RIP Susan. You have earned both the rest & the peace.
Sorry for your loss, may Susan rest in peace & you and the boys hold on tight to the wonderful memories you all created. Hugs.
Godspeed Susan.
Goodbye Susan, you will be in my heart forever.
Curt, I am very sorry for the loss of your wounderful wife. Widget and LittleBear have lost their amazing mother, Dr & Mrs Mahan their beloved daughter and John his sister. My thoughts and prayes will be with all of you.
May Susan rest in peace, She has left a mark on many a heart, mine included and I am thinking of the people she’s left behind as they make their way through this difficult time.
All my love.
[…] After I write this post, Susan Niebur lost her battle with inflammatory breast cancer. She is much loved and was a valiant spirit. […]
Goodbye dear Susan. I’m going to miss your honest and well-written posts. Rest in peace.
My thoughts are with Curt and the boys.
[…] Earlier today, the news that Susan Niebur (a.k.a. @whymommy) had passed away was posted in a very touching tribute by her husband Curt, on the blog that so many people came to know her through – Toddler Planet. Susan finally […]
[…] day at school. It was a good one, but I can’t blog about it tonight. I am too sad. Susan Niebur, Whymommy, died today (6 Feb in the US). She was a wonderful person, and a great […]
Dear Little Bear and Widget you have a very special mummy.
She is so strong and wise, so beautiful and wonderful, and so very very proud of you both.
Be safe, and grow up strong and courageous, just like her.
[…] then I read that Susan had lost her battle with cancer and my perspective was rightfully […]
Let us not speak of fights and of losing, but of love and a life well-lived. Goodbye, Susan. Thank you.
Curt and family, I’m so so sorry for your loss.
Thinking of you.
Another star shining bright, another angel in the heavens. Rest in Peace dear Susan. Your family and friends are in my prayers.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Susan will be dearly missed.
The manner in which Susan lived was inspirational and she helped me on a personal level with dealing with my Mother’s cancer and understanding what she went through.
With deepest sympathy to Curt, the children and families for your loss.
Thank you Curt and your boys, for sharing Susan with us. I will miss her.
My deepest condolences – susan will definitely be missed. Thank you for sharing your journey with us!
I am so sorry for your loss. I have loved this blog for years and I appreciate so much what Susan shared with all of us. I will miss her even though I never met her.
I’m so sorry. She was a rare gem among us, and will be missed. My best to you and your family.
Curt, I have only personally experienced a bit of what Susan, you, and your family have been through, and that was hard enough. She was very brave to carry on and blog about it for the rest of us. She lives on in memory.
I’m so very very sorry for your loss. She was an amazing woman.
Our deepest sympathies to your family. Words seem empty right now, but she in God’s loving care now, and healed.
Curt and family,
I am lifting you and your family up in my thoughts and prayers.
I’m so sorry for all of you. Susan’s story of strength and perseverance was inspiring to many of us.
my deepest sympathy to you and your family, Susan was an inspiration and will always be a shining star among us
I’m am so sorry for your family’s loss. Susan was an early supporter of my research of young women blogging online during cancer. She was a source of support and strength for me in my dissertation, and as we all did, I felt as though I knew her through her (your) story. She so beautifully shared her life with us, and her contributions innumerable.
I am so very sorry for your loss. Susan will forever remain an inspiration to me and all who have had the extreme pleasure of being touched by her grace and beauty.
You and your family have my sympathy. Susan was a tremendous woman.
I am so sorry for the loss of your dear wife and the boys’ mommy. I only knew Susan through her blog but what a difference she made in so many lives. All of us can only hope to do a small portion of what she accomplished in her brief time on earth. May God bring you blessings, comfort and that knowledge that you are receiving prayers from around the world. Remember, He holds you in the palm of his hands.
Dearest Curt, keeping you and your family close to my heart. There is indeed a star shining in the sky that is Susan.
I’m sorry. Just so sorry and sending deepest sympathies to you.
So very sorry to hear this. Seems like just a blink since Curt and Susan got married and started their lives together. Much love to you all.
I am so very sorry for your loss of an amazing wife, a delightful mom ,an extradition scientists and advocate. Susan will forever remain an inspiration to me.
I am so deeply sorry and overwhelmingly sad to hear this.
Goodbye Susan, you were an amazing person.
What a gift Susan was to the world — she will continue to inspire us all.
Wishing you and your family peace and healing Curt. -Christine
I feel for the little boys she loved so much and you, Curt. Life is so unfair. She was such an amazing, brilliant, kind, special and inspiring woman who seemed to have everything. This is such sad, sad news.
You are all in my thoughts and prayers. I am so sorry for your loss.
Thank you, Susan…
I’m so sorry. Peace to you and your family.
I am forever changed by knowing Susan through her words here. Peace and love as your family continues it’s journey. Cindy
I will keep you all in my thoughts and prayers, I am sorry for your loss.
My deepest and heartfelt sympathies to you and your family.
My sincerest condolences to you and your family, Curt. Susan touched so many lives any words seem inadequate. You are in my thoughts. Peace. Dave Williams, ASU
I came to this blog for ideas on what to do with my (then) toddler. I stayed because Susan’s writing about her cancer was so honest and shared so openly. I came back time and again for advice when my friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. I’ve never met her, but she has made a huge difference in my life and the lives of so many others. My prayers are with your family and with all the community here and at Mothers With Cancer. Thank you, Susan, for all you’ve done for the world. You’ve made a difference.
Curt, you and your boys will forever be in my hearts and prayers. Her love for you, her family, trumped all. Thank you for sharing her with us. Every time I look to the sky I am reminded of her.
Susan was a beautiful person. In every way.
“The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of those depths. These persons have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.” -Elizabeth Ross
My sympathy goes out to you and your children. I can’t imagine the depth of your loss.
Add my sorrow and condolences to this long list. She was obviously an amazing woman. Peace and comfort to your family.
I reposted Susan’s words today — the words from her about section — that so touched me the first time I read them when I came here to make sense of a friend’s diagnosis — and it has been Susan — her words and presence here that have so helped me –I will look carefully after the words I write, the thoughts and publications I create — and how I love others — she is so right…these remain — and she did all of these with such power and integrity.
My love and thoughts to you,
Pam
Dear Curt,
You, the boys and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
I only read one post of yours, Susan. January 22nd. I only read that because other people I read mentioned you.
I never got to know you, I got to know OF you. From others. I guess I came to this too late. I KNOW I would really like to have gotten to know you and your family. But I’m too late.
Goodbye, Susan. In a world too busy, too fast, too dim, you were a bright spot.
Mr. Niebur, I wish I knew what to say to make you feel better. You have my condolences. She was special.
My condolences to your family! Susan you touched me with your words and work and I will forever remember you! RIP dear Susan! I will miss you oh so so much!
My deepest sympathies on your great loss. She was a woman of unique eloquence and insight and we are that much poorer at her passing.
The “other” scientist Mommy – Robbin K.
I did not know Susan personally but I know of the many people whose lives she touched in such positive ways. My prayers are with Curt and their boys. She will be missed but never forgotten…
I am just sick over this. But I believe she is still in the universe and doing her good work.
I’m full of tears and memories, but no words seem to emerge that feel worthy of this amazing woman. I am glad to have shared with Susan the moments we did have, and wish I could’ve known her better — and longer. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your boys.
This is the first time I’ve ever visited this blog, but I believe the universe had a hand in this discovery. You see, my mother passed away yesterday, too…at the age of 64 after a long battle with metastatic breast cancer. Her symptoms and timeline of decline are identical to Susan’s posts. I’m sure my familly & I are feeling every ounce of sadness and anger and regret and uncertainty as you are. You are absolutely NOT alone in your grief, and maybe together we can start our journey towards finding peace in our hearts.
With deepest sympathy,
Jill M.
Frederick, MD
Curt, Susan was always one of my favorite patrons in the Library. Even in the midst of her fight, she absolutely lit any room she entered with her joy and enthusiasm for life. I loved talking with her about the boys as they grew since my daughter is only a few years older. I am truly surprised by the sense of loss I feel and I know that my feelings cannot compare to your own. Good luck to you and the boys.
My heart breaks for you, your children and the rest of Susan’s family. Her strength and grace through the difficult times is truly an inspiration to many. May God continue to carry your family in the coming days and months and try to take comfort in that she has been made whole again through Him.
[…] I heard the news via Twitter, as I hear most news lately, especially the sad kind. Susan had passed away. While it was not totally surprising or shocking, that didn’t stop the tears, sadness and […]
May her memory be eternal… Our thoughts and prayers for you and your family. Please remember us to Maury and Pay, too.
Love
Terry and Charlotte Algood
Jackson, MS
I hoped against hope that we would have a new blog from Susan any day now saying her back was healing, or that the best rest sucked but how she was getting stronger. I never knew Susan in real life, only in the computer but I am just so sad. I can only imagine how her family is feeling today.
Sending so much love from Milwaukee. It’s true that we were lucky to know her and have her, but she was lucky to have you, Curt and a life of love and adventure. I’m so sorry.
What a loss for your family, and for the world.
There are no sufficient words; never any at a time like this.
My wife, Kiersten, was diagnosed with IBC in 2002 and died in February 2008. Still, I have nothing useful to say. You have lost so much and suffered so much in the losing.
I wish so much for you to have space to grieve in your own particular way and people around you who can give you that space for as long as you all need it.
Adam
Our thoughts and prayers are with you and the boys. Susan was and will always be an inspiration to so many.
xoxo
LBC
I happened upon her blog by “accident” one day but after reading it just one time, I knew there was nothing accidental about it. I believe it is every person’s hope that they make an impression on this world before they die. Susan indeed made an impression. As a mother my heart aces for your precious boys who now have to grow up without their mommy they so obviously adored but know she will never be far from them. I will keep all of you in my prayers just as I did Susan. Thank you for sharing her with all of us. Her body is gone but her spirit remains with all of us.
I’m so so sorry. My prayers are with you and the boys, and with Susan in heaven. That she found faith through all this, rather than losing it in anger, helped me with my own faith. She was an inspiration to me, to my daughter, to women and people everywhere. She will be sorely missed; she was greatly loved.
[…] god, no,” I said to my phone companion. “Whymommy died.” It took saying it a few times before it sank in. Stunned, we pretended to finish our […]
My deepest sympathy for the loss of your amazing wife and mother. She spent too short a time with you but gave so much during that time. Blessings to you.
My heart hurts today. Rest in Peace Susan.
[…] Goodbye (toddlerplanet.wordpress.com) […]
Much love and peace to you and your boys. Susan will never be forgotten.
Love, peace and comfort to you and the boys, Curt.
I am just so very sad and so very sorry. Peace and love to all of you.
god must help you…
3D chalk art,3D Street Art:Funny Photos
My sincere regrets and sympathy goes out to Susan’s family. We will all miss her but your loss will be the hardest. God bless you all and thank you for sharing her with us.
I am so sorry. Peace to you.
Please accept my sincere condolences for the loss of your wife and mother. It’s so hard to imagine the thought. I am grateful and fortunate for having read her words.
Thank you for sharing your life and love with us.
One last hug and kiss from me and Girlies 3,
xoxo CGF
Wishing you love and peace as you adjust to life without your brilliant and beautiful wife and mother. The sky will be so much brighter with her star shining down on us.
There are no right words to express the sadness I feel. I was lucky enough to have met Susan once, and her warmth will stay with me always. I am so so sorry for your loss. Please know that the blogosphere thinks of you and your family at this time. And I am so sorry for not finding the right words here. I’m just so sad. Sending love and hugs to you all.
I never met Susan in person. However her blog allowed me to get to know the great human being that she was, a person that was not defined by cancer, but was brave enough to share her story.
Susan said that people are remember by their writing and their children. Well, she will be remember all the way to Mexico City, where I live. Her words and her love for her family will be remember. Farewell Susan.
This is terribly sad news. I came across Susan’s blog about 6 months ago and I’ve been a follower ever since. I was amazed by her strength and courage. Wishing Susan peace at the end of this very long road she had been traveling. And praying for her husband and sons during this time.
I am so very sorry. Prayers and thoughts go to you and your family. She was an inspiration to us all.
Please know how very sorry I am for your loss. I enjoyed reading Susan’s blog for a long time. Her blog made me aware of IBC. Knowledge is powerful. She was a fighter! I will keep your family in my prayers. Hugs.
I’m so sorry. I have kept up with her blog over the years and was so sorry to see this news. Will be thinking of you and your family tonight. Sending love your way.
The world has lost a great lady. Susan’s courage and work for IBC awareness will continue to inspire and help others. May God comfort her family… they are all in my prayers.
Curt, we are thinking of and praying for you, your sons and the rest of your family. You and Susan have been such an inspiration…with all your love and strength. We are here for you. -Jill & family
Love Lives On
Those we love are never really lost to us–
we feel them in so many special ways–
through friends they always cared about
and dreams they left behind,
in beauty that they added to our days…
in words of wisdom we still carry with us
and memories that never will be gone…
Those we love
are never really lost to us–
for everywhere their special love lives on.
Susan you will be missed deeply and you will live on in your beautiful boys… LOVE AND PRAYERS!
I am so sorry for your loss.
Curt, there are so many comments on here, I don’t know if you’ll read mine….I started following Susan’s blog back in November 2011. I have never in my life “met” anyone with such strength, grace and courage. I can not even imagine facing the battles that she had to face, and I am in awe of her, and you and your children. May all your wonderful memories of Susan bring you comfort in this sad time, hug those babies for me, Susan you will never be forgotten by any of us.
My heart goes out to you and your familiy. I was one of Susan’s classmates from high school c/o 91. We all knew she was one of the brightest in our class, but I will always remember her as one of kindest. My prayers are with you at this difficult time.
Susan was a major source of inspiration and encouragement for myself and countless others. She will be greatly missed. My thoughts are with you at this time.
So incredibly sorry for your loss. Susan was – and is – a star. I pray for you and your family.
Goodbye, Susan. You were like the hub of a wheel to me.
I pray for many blessings to rain down on you, Curt and your wonderful little boys.
So sad, my heart and thoughts are with you and your little boys, hoping for blessings for all of you as you move forward with your lives
I am so sorry for your loss. Susan was a bright and beautiful star..she always will be.
[…] Susan Niebur (Toddler Planet, @whymommy) passed away on February 6, 2012. Donations to the Inflammatory Breast Cancer Research Foundation are being collected in her name. […]
I’m so sorry. Susan was one of the reasons I went into cancer care. I’ll say a prayer for her and for your family. Take care.
Susan did much to raise the visibility of women in planetary science, and I appreciated her efforts. My thoughts are with you and your family.
I’m so sorry for your loss. You and your children are in my thoughts and prayers.
So very very sorry for this world’s loss, and of course specifically for your loss. I hope Susan can find my dear Lisa…also a mother taken away from her young children much too soon. Perhaps they can find peace together.
It seems strange to shed tears for someone I’ve never actually met, but she was so obviously an amazing person and her love for her family just shone through her words. Blessings to you and your boys.
Susan was a beautiful person who gave inspiration and hope to so many. She accomplished quite a lot in the short time she was given. May the loving memories help to soften the edges of sorrow as you go through this difficult time. Thoughts and prayers will continue for you and your family.
Susan brought so much hope, honesty, and beautiful writing to an unbelievably challengin topic. I never met her in person, but her words have meant the world to me and have helped me through some very dark days. Please know how much she will be missed.
Susan gave people hope, and someone to relate to. That’s something that very few people achieve in their lifetime.
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
[…] night an email in my inbox, titled only Goodbye, linked me to Toddler Planet, a blog by Susan Niebur, astrophysicist and mother (among many other things, I’m sure) and cancer […]
Dear Curt
As you know my heart goes out to you and the family. I love Susan very much for so many reasons. She was an amazing woman, inside and out! She was an awesome friend. I only pray that when my journey is over here on this earth the good Lord will bless me, by allowing me to be in her life again in Heaven, where I KNOW SHE’S AT, standing next to him. Thank you for sharing her with so many people, ESPECIALLY ME. My prayers are always with you and the family. She always praised you and the boys and I want you to know that she had a lot of people who knew her personally and by blogging that cared and loved her dearly, but remember one thing THE BOYS AND YOURSELF were her rock. Her family. As I said before, you both are an inspiration for my husband and I. Thank you for everything and if there’s anything my family and I can do please do not hesitate to call. PS- I am in MA at the present time until next week, but just wanted you to know you and the family have a lot more prayers here up north. Sincerely: SantaMaria
[…] I read the post on her blog titled “Goodbye” written by her brave husband Curt. He wrote “Susan Niebur passed away on February 6, […]
My heat goes out to all of you. She was an amazing person that touched so many lives.
My heart and my thoughts are with you. Her spirit will always live on through her family, friends and this words on this blog. xo
Audrey
Curt
I do not know you or Susan, but i have been inspired by Susan’s tenacity and spirit. Please accept my deepest condolences. I have read Susan’s blog for many years. She has touched so many lives, I am certain that you are so proud of her.
It is always hard to know what to say at times like this – or whether to say anything.
But perhaps someday you will read everyone’s condolences, and some of our words will offer you some comfort.
Now is the time for you to take care of yourself, and your boys — which is not easy. I am sure that you have been so strong for your wife these past years. Now you need to lean on family and friends to take care of you.
Susan’s legacy to her boys is a remarkable one. You have her words, her thoughts and her struggled chronicled on this blog. As your boys grow to become young men, I know that they will be so proud of all that she is and all that she did. And as an adult who lost their parent to cancer, know that they will grow up thankful that they may not have had their mom their whole lives, but they will be thankful that they had her for the time they did.
With much love and admiration and gratitude. There is a hole in the world, right now. And, thanks for the donation link.
a/b (Suzi Hileman)
My sympathies and thoughts to Susan’s family and friends. I met Susan in 2010 in New York- we served on the American Cancer Blogger Advisory Council. She was strong, determined, and inspirational. She had an aura to her. Having battled cancer a year before myself, she gave me a feeling of calm- like everything was going to be OK. Susan was a symbol to me of hope, and life goes on-even after cancer. We’ve lost a great voice for cancer awareness, and she will be missed. RIP Susan. ♥
You are loved Susan; very deeply. Your kindness, courage and love will continue on in your children, your family and your friends. We are all such better people for having shared our time with you.
Godspeed, Susan. Godspeed.
It took courage and strength for you to share this with us. May God grant you and your families patience during this difficult time.
Curt,
As someone who ran across Susan’s blog through Lymphedivas, I followed her blog for the last six months. I had ductal INSITU breast cancer twice and Susan taught me so much about compassion, strength and love. My prayers will continue to be with you and your boys as you struggle to find a new “normal,” which I guess will be a long time coming. The moon shines fully with Susan’s smile behind it.
Bless you all.
Linda T
I am so sorry for your loss. She was a wonderful person. She was an inspiration to everyone.
I am so very sorry for the loss of this incredible woman. My prayers go out to all who loved her.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Your wife was an incredible woman. You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers.
[…] Posted by bon under coping stuff, relationship stuff No Comments the day after. Susan’s gone. […]
To all the family and many many friends of Susan, you are in our thoughts and prayers. May she now be in peace. Sincerely, Jenny (Feldman) Rivera
Curt, I’m so sorry to hear about Susan’s passing. As a fellow parent of two young kids, my heart reaches out for you all. I remember being inspired by Susan when she earned the PMI that landed her job at NASA HQ. I planned the remainder of my time in grad school to follow in her footsteps, but I ended up taking a different path. Suffice it to say, I’ve always been immensely impressed by you both, particularly in the past few years as you’ve had to juggle parenting along with Susan’s condition. I’ll keep your family in my thoughts.
-Brian (White) Shiro
fellow WUSTL EPSC alumnus
[…] last words to the readers (the last word she typed was HOPE – did you notice?) to Curt’s first words – I waited in that gap for news. Wanting to ask, but knowing to not. Not reading until after […]
I’m so sorry. Sending love and prayers to all Susan’s family and friends.
Thinking of all Susan’s family, friends and those who cared for her.
We are still here. I am still praying.
http://thriftstoremama.blogspot.com/2012/02/whymommy-aka-susan-niebur.html
Susan showed what real fight and determination look like; as well as how much a mother can love her children and family no matter what life holds.
My deepest sympathy to you and your boys. We were all touched deeply by having Susan in our lives. What an inspiration she was to us with IBC and moms everywhere. May she rest in peace. Prayers,
Courageous indeed!
[…] waiting for today to hit publish. With the recent passing of the stunning on the inside and out Susan Niebur, I debated pushing this post aside, writing instead a tribute to her. But as I thought about it, […]
lots of people in High school knew of susan, some people knew susan, I wish I had realy known, susan and that will be one of my regrets !
My deepest condolences to you and your family. I never got the chance to know Susan online, but I wish I could have. I can tell from people’s reactions how much she meant to a lot of people. That is her legacy. Again, my condolences to you and your family.
My heart aches for your family, but I know she is with our Heavenly Father. She has shared so much through this blog that has opened my eyes even more to the power of PRAYER and God. I have been an able subscriber and follower for over 2 years. She shared the odds of her survival, and she shared every feeling she was going through. This blog is a true testament to a wonderful woman that I will miss dearly.
Thank you, Curt and boys, for sharing Susan these past five years. I learned so much from her. You’re in my thoughts and prayers.
RIP Susan. Prayers are with your family
I am so sorry for your loss and hate that cancer can take so many amzing ladies. Being diagnosed with cancer is frightening but allows you to make the most of every moment and after reading her blog she clearly did that with her family and friends. She will be missed and remembered by so many. After being diagnosed with cancer you have a desire to make a difference in this world and Susan clearly did. Blessings and Hugs
Hello Curt…I was so sad to hear your story. I didn’t know Susan. I’m just…heartsore for you and your children. I wish you the ability to overcome, that laughter and joy don’t leave your home.
Kind regards,
Karen
I am heartbroken. I didn’t know Susan well — we met in person just once — at Blogher a couple of years ago — but she was a great inspiration as a working mother. I thought of her often because she spoke openly about the challenges that mothers in science face — and suggested real, tangible solutions. Susan was an amazing advocate for women with cancer, but she was also a mother of ambition who made me feel that I was not alone in my desire to have a rich family life and an important career. I have lost a fellow traveler. Her memory will be a blessing for me and others who she inspired.
I am so sad to hear this. I just got the news through the Olin fellowship network. Susan was always so energetic, she was an inspiration for us back then too.
You and your family are in our thoughts.
It’s not fair. It’s just not fair. We all wanted Susan to live, not forever but long enough to see her kids grow up. It’s not fair, it’s not right, and I’m sad 😦
There are cancer fighters, then theres Susan…. She gave new meaning to love, life, and courage. I’m happy to have found her blog a few weeks ago. She has shown me Many things about life and love that I don’t think I would have discovered on my own. Thank you whymommy
My thoughts and prayers are with your family at this difficult time. She will be deeply missed.
I am so very, very sorry to learn of her passing. She was a wonderful, compassionate and strong advocate, a cherished wife and mother and a brilliant mind in her own right.
While I rarely, if ever, commented, it was because I had nothing of substance to say. I followed her journey with optimism as I had a friend also suffering from this horrible disease.
My heartfelt condolences to you and your sons. I hope in some small way her legacy will comfort you and your sons and will provide each of you with some comfort.
diane
Ive never read this blog before, but I am so sorry for your loss. Looking through the archives, Susan was a VERY strong woman. Im saddened I wasn’t blessed to know her before hwas gone but glad to have the archives to read through .
Curt –
I lost touch with her after college but I know she was a blessing while she was with you. My heart aches for you and the boys. I know she will be missed.
Susan and her legacy inspired me – and continues to do so. Rest now. Love to Curt and the boys and to Susan.
So sorry to here of this loss. I was inspired to follow Susan after the “Love Fest”. She inspired me to add breast health as a key issue in my work with young women.
Sending prayers to the family.
Much love to you, your boys, and all your family and friends.
The sheer number of comments alone should tell you how many lives she touched. I hope you can find a way to print them out and save them for the boys when they are older. They are an important part of her legacy.
Sending sympathy to you and your children. They will carry the beauty and grace of their mother with them forever. Peace to your family and friends.
I am so sorry to hear of Susan’s passing. I have been following this blog as my mother has been fighting the same disease. My mother passed away two days before Susan. God be with you as your grieve and celebrate the life of a wonderful woman.
I’am so sorry for your loss Kristin, hugs.
Thanks so much 🙂
Susan was and is an inspiration. So many have been blessed by her faith, passion, love, and intellect. May memories of her bring you joy even in the midst of your sorrow.
xoxo from the Hot Mommas Project
A Tribute to Our Planetary Star, Susan Niebur, Hot Mommas Project 2011 STEM Winner
http://hotmommasproject.com/?p=3483
Susan rocked it. What a gal.
Last night I prayed for Susan. I led my prayers off with hers first, as I pray for many things nightly. Friends, family, loved ones, ect. I prayed for Susan to have peace and comfort, and to be free of pain. As I said the words, silently in my head, a feeling came over me that I have only felt once before in my life.
It was when my oldest daughter was only 3 days old, and the doctors discovered she had a heart defect (VSD) and would require immediate open heart surgery to repair within 3 days. I prayed, oh how I prayed that God would heal her. I felt him, his hand touched me that night, and my daughters VSD was in deed healed. My oldest daughter is now turning 10 years old in April, heart defect free.
Last night, I felt god touch me again. Only in a different way. I knew, without a doubt, my prayer had been answered. Little did I know that God had answered my prayer a day before I had even said it.
Some people are put on this earth to teach us. Not in a class room, not in a school, but by the way they conduct themselves, and the example they lead. Susan’s life has taught us all many important lessons, and she did it by her actions, as well as with her words. She is a hero, and her legacy will live on for many years to come.
I admit, I am angry. It is not fair, as I said in an earlier post. I feel like there should be a national day of mourning, and Susan’s story should be painted across every media website, her name mentioned on every television news broadcast, and her face on the cover of every magazine. She is a true hero, how could her passing go so unnoticed by the world in general? Why do people care more about who won the super bowl, or the latest celebrity in rehab, when we should all be mourning the passing of an epic hero?
To Curt, and her two beautiful boys, we all love you so very much. You too are hero’s. May God bring you peace, comfort, and tranquility in this, the most challenging time of your lives.
To the rest of us, do Susan a favor, pass her legacy, her story, on to all that will listen. That is how we can best serve her now. The time for cards, well wishes, and the out pouring of love and support for her has passed. Now is the time for action. Awareness is great, but that step has already been taken. Now it is time to get aggressive and bring the medical community the resources it needs so that no one else has to lose a mother, sister, friend, or hero. Susan’s mission, her personal mission she so eloquently laid out here on these pages, shall now be taken up as our own.
Susan’s death is a loss for so many, but more than anything for her husband and her boys. I am sorry for your great loss and I will be thinking and praying for you in the weeks and months to come.
I am sorry. So very sorry.
I feel privileged to have shared a panel with Susan at LPSC last March–it seems like yesterday! I noticed how the young women especially listened to her career advice, and I was glad to hear of her participation at Explore Mars because I’m sure she inspired more young women there as well.
I’ll try to do more to encourage women in science–I taught an astronomy class in middle school last fall and plan to do so again this year. Somehow, it doesn’t seem like much compared to all Susan did even while struggling with cancer.
Please accept my deepest sympathies on the loss of such an amazing woman and role model.
Why. Precious word. Whymommy. Susan made that word. I am a lurker. I once commented on Justenjoyhim for the beloved Mother with Cancer. I am so sad. I am also so very angry, mad. Very mad. I wanted everything for Susan. I did not know Susan. However, I knew her deep. Through her words. Any mother, knew Susan. She wanted to see her children grow up. Her sons. To grow into young men. To laugh with them. To cry with them. To dance with them. She wanted to grow old with Whydaddy. She wanted to smile at him. Knowing they raised wonderful sons well. She wanted to dance at their sons weddings to wonderful women. To grow old. Most of us will have this. Dont waste it. Savor every moment. Its life. Its Susan. I never knew Susan. I read her every day. I am just so sad. And most importantly mad that cancer is such a horrible disease.
I am so terribly sorry for your loss. Thank you for sharing her with us–Know that you are all in our family’s night-night prayers.
I am very sorry for your loss. I was blessed to hear Susan speak at Blogalicious. She was very strong and very moving. I am praying for your family and all those who’s lives she touched.
Nooooo! No no no no. Oh did she pass peacefully? Was it the pneumonia that finally conquered her? I just can’t believe it. Please please, post some details about her days between her last post and this final goodbye. I just can’t believe she is actually gone. Please, Curt. Anyone. Please fill us in. Please let us know she knew she was loved and that she passed with as much peace and comfort as possible. Let us know you and the boys are okay?
Condolences to you and the rest of the family. My heart is breaking for you.
Continued prayers for you and the boys. I pray that you find comfort in dear memories. And that you allow yourself time and space to mourn.
Susan was so generous to share her strength and wisdom with everyone — what a wonderful legacy.
Curt: I am heartbroken for you, your boys and all who Susan touched on a regular basis. Please know that she was (and will continue to be) an inspiration to so many of us. I send over love and prayers for strength for you and your family.
Thank you, and farewell, to Susan. You are an inspiration.
Wishing healing and comfort to Susan’s sons and to Curt.
My heart breaks, she was an inspiration.
Peace & strength to you and the kids, Curt.
I am sorry. God bless you.
I am so glad she lived for so long and you, we all had time with her. All the best to you and all your dear family and friends.
I read her blog entries to my students and used her faith and honesty to teach them that with God and friends we can move forward even in times of crises. I haven’t told them that she passed, but we will miss her encouraging words.
God Bless you and your sons in the days ahead
I am so sorry for your loss. Words fail me but please know that I will continue to keep you and your wonderful boys in my prayers.
I am so very sorry. There is nothing more I can say.
Curt ,
Susan was a very special person and was so lucky to have you by her side all the way.. Much love to you and the boys. You will always be in our thoughts and prayers.
Love
[…] husband, Curt, said in the final post on Toddler Planet, “please choose to make a difference somewhere, anywhere, to […]
Susan’s blog was important to me as a newly diagnosed mother of young kids. She led the way and was a great champion for our cause. I’m so very sorry that she’s gone, but hope it provides some measure of comfort to know that she did make a difference and we won’t forget her.
My thoughts and prayers go out to your entire family. God Bless! Susan was an inspiration to all.
I’m so sorry to hear the news. Susan is a beautiful testament to motherhood. I know you and your boys will miss her so much more than I can imagine. But I will miss her writing here as many others will I am sure.
:,-(
[…] a friend died, a fellow blogger who was a mom to two little boys, a wife, and a NASA scientist. Susan Niebur died after fighting inflammatory breast cancer for over five years, and while we all mourn the loss of […]
Dear Curt– please know that your Susan meant so many things to so many people that her legacy is not just her immediate family, nor her cancer people, nor her planetary science gang, or her mama friends. Special special special she will always be
so, so true
The world is a better place for having known Susan, if only for a far-too-brief time. My heart goes out to you and yours.
Farewell Susan. 😦
Dear Curt,
I am just hearing of Susan’s death. She died on Monday, which was the day that I laid my adoptive son to rest at the age of 21 from a rare melanoma form of cancer. My heart is breaking knowing that I have now lost Susan too, my only comfort is in knowing that Rich was there to greet her!
Susan was an inspiration to me and I found her blog after having my own bout with Breast Cancer, which was followed ten months later by my Mom’s bout with Breast Cancer. Susan was always kind to me, inspired me when I was felt I needed to do something about Cancer. I wrote an article called 15 Ways To Help A Friend Who Has Cancer in her honor. She was graceful and reflective as always with her comments and praise.
She will be missed, Curt. Her life meant something and you know that more than any of us. I send you my love and prayers. I will never look at the stars the same way because I know our dear Susan is among them.
Love,
Sammie Love
I am so, very sorry. My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
I’m so sorry for your loss. My thoughts and prayers are with your family.
I am so sorry for your loss. Words I’m sure are of little comfort to you and yours right now.I wish I could say something that would help.
To an absolutely incredible woman, Susan Niebur, otherwise known as Toddler Planet (& toddlerplanet)… Survived against all odds for so long, gave meaning to the words “positive” and “strong”.
I only met you online last year and although brief, it was enough to fill me with cheer.
Peace be with you. May your memory live on. You are loved by many.
For those who need courage, hope and strength need just to look at you and your blog.
You are an inspiration to us all. 🙂
Thank you WhyDaddy for posting. Best wishes to you, Little Bear and Widget.
Curt:
I had no idea this was going on–I’ve been so out of the loop since I left HQ. I really have no idea what to say, except, God bless Susan, and you, and your children.
Phil Sakimoto
Dear Curt, this is terrible news, I am thinking of you and the boys right now. It’s is fair, and I can’t imagine I could say anything of real help at this time. I just hope you can move onto your next chapter in your life with your boys as you are all ready to do so, and I really do wish you and the boys so much love right now, best regards, Annie XXXXX
Dear Curt,
I am so sorry to hear your devastating news. Susan touched the lives of so many people. May God comfort you and your kids through these challenging days.
Janet (BREW Louie’s “mom”)
I am so sorry for your loss. Your entire family is and will remain in my prayers.
Reblogged this on Our time will come…..
Watching the transition of this blog over the past 6 years has been heartbreaking and wonderful. I knew Susan online and was fortunate enough to meet her in person…on a bus… on the way to a Blogher party when she saw my name tag and yelled my name in recognition and gave me a hug. She was just that way.
It was wonderful getting to know this smart and brave lady. She will be missed. @mcmilker
I am so sorry for what your family has lost. I ‘knew’ Susan through Judy Kooistra and never ceased to be amazed at the strength of these two exceptional women. My heart is filled with love for you.
may you have the strenght to let her flow away, to keep her always with you. her words have always been a beautiful source of thought for me, she made me feel so less lonely. thank you, thank you and goodbye
Sending prayers and gentle hugs your way, for you and the little ones. She touched so many people and educated us all.
Sending thoughts your way…. hoping you are able to just put one foot in front of the other each day. I wanted to share a blog tribute I wrote for Susan which is mostly is the video of her at the BlogHer meeting.
I also wanted you to know that Susan took the time to COMFORT me when I was flipping out over some dumb test….. She is one of the most special people I have ever had the privilege of knowing.
http://chemo-brain.blogspot.com/2012/02/and-for-susan-just-hours-later.html
AnneMarie
Hello to Susan’s friends and followers,
I told the producer of AboutHealth, an online forum, about Susan and all of you. Well, not each of you individually, but you know what I mean 🙂 I offered to drop into this site to ask if any of you who faced IBC would be willing to field questions for his on-line forum. He has survivors and or practitioners answer cancer patients’ questions. It could be a one-time thing or I don’t know, maybe more often. It’s one more shout about IBC. so if you’re interested, in working with him, his name’s Murray and here’s his e-mail address: murray@talkabouthealth.com.
Thanks. Hope you’re all well.
Rachel
Oops, the on-line forum I referenced in the previous message is called TalkAboutHealth.com, not AboutHealth.com. But you’ll probably notice that by the e-mail address I included. 🙂
Wow. I didn’t know Susan, but many of my online friends did, have posted tributes, have posted great sadness.
I’m so sorry for your loss.
May the future bring healing and peace to your family.
Am very sorry for your loss, Curt. I wish the best for you and your family.
I am so sorry for your loss. My heart goes out to you and your family. Susan will continue to be an inspiration to all of us. Her beautiful, courageous spirit will live on FOREVER. Wishing you and your family all the best.
Susan was so generous. Thank you for sharing your life with us and inspiring us to be better people.
Curt,
Susan, Your family, your story, your strength has truely been an inspirational to us all. You have given us all a lesson in love. Susan will forever be loved and remembered. May God continue to bless and comfort you.
Good morning, Sunshine. (yes, that’s you, Susan) I have no idea if there is life after death, but know if it does exist, you are very much a part of it. Even if it isn’t there, you obviously live on in the souls and hearts of many people. So for you, and for those who are still here and thinking of you, good morning!
Wishing you all peace and strength in these strange ‘afterwards’ days and hoping that those of you who carry on will be well and strong and together. Susan was a huge inspiration to me over the last 22 months and I will miss her honest writing and her passion for life.
I’m glad for her that the pain and hardship is over but her love for her family just shone out through her words and I wish you could all still be together. Letting go of a piece of your family, even when it is for the ‘best’, is the most intolerable grief and having been through it, I wish that no one need ever do so again.
With love.
Descansa en paz querida Susan.
Angela
הקמת עמותה…
[…]Goodbye « Toddler Planet[…]…
I’m sorry to hear of Susan’s passing. She was a strong and inspiring lady. I enjoyed meeting her and hearing her story at local blogging events when I lived in the Baltimore/DC area. Take care!
[…] Susan is gone. […]
So sad to hear of Susan’s passing after being away from twitter for a while. She was one of the first people I followed on Twitter, and the first person to ‘talk’ to me directly. Peace to you and your family.
I miss you, Susan. IBC sister, you were a real poet! With love, Maria
Our thoughts and prayers are you and your family. Susan will be missed. So sorry for your loss.
I just wanted to let the Whyfamily know that I think of Susan, and them, daily still. I’m walking 5 miles for cancer research tomorrow, it’s a short journey, but you will be in my heart for all of it and more.
I miss your words.
Still thinking of you and the boys and the family. My heart still breaks for all of you. I am continuing to pray for you and share her legacy. God bless you all.
I am so sorry to read this, my heart is heavy for you all. I lost my mother to IBC just two days after Susan passed away – I know what an awful disease this is. I pray that there is a cure that can be found so people can stop dying.
i’m still sorry. every day.
I am saddened to hear about the loss of Susan. Although I never met her, I felt like I knew her, just a little, through her writing. May she rest in peace. Debbie
I did not know Susan till today when I happened to come across a post on Pinterest. Though I have not read her blog fully but have had a cursory look. The content on the blog is that of a courageous human being who wanted to help society by sharing her experience. Having lost my mother to breast cancer I’m aware the kind of effort it would have taken to maintain the blog.
The whole society is indebted to her and I hope she inspires others to share their experiences because the strength of the human race is in sharing (which has been facilitated by Technology). I will be going through the blog and I’m sure I will learn a lot.
I wish I had come across her when she was alive. Having said that I thank the almighty that I came across the blog which is better than being ignorant about Susan.
May I request you to let the blog exist as it is as this is part of history and will help many in years to come.
May Susan Niebur rest in peace and my condolences to the family an friends.
I am so saddened to learn of Susan’s death. Susan and I were in the same sorority pledge class at Tech. I remember her as thoughtful, kind, and one of the most intelligent, yet humble, people I have ever known.
I read through years of this blog yesterday. I am so thankful that she wrote here to leave behind a story of love and strength for her children.
My thoughts and prayers are with Susan’s family.
Curt, I don’t know if you are still reading these, but just in case I wanted to share something that happened today that made me think of Susan and smile. My oldest daughter (now 5) led me to Susan in the first place, by asking questions about the stars when she was 3. Not knowing how to explain space to a toddler, I googled and wound up here. Today, I head that same little girl teaching her sister about the sun (her inflatable sun, from her inflatable solar system, which arrived at Christmas and is much beloved). She came running to breakfast calling “I’ll come back to play with you later, Sun!” and informed me that “The Sun and I are best friends. I love the Sun.”
I know how you, the boys, and your whole family must miss and honor her memory every day. I thought you might also like to know that even in the oddest of places, where she never physically resided, Susan’s legacy lives on.