Julie Lindy - Adeena texts

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in honor of Adeena Paknoush

As She Grew

by Adeena Paknoush
There was a girl who grew every day
As she grew, she took something along with her,
It became a part of her; she held it close to her heart
Remembering every color, its taste, its

touch, its smell, its sound its significance,
Taking in the warmth of the of the bright yellow sun, basking in it,
And the smell of the colorful tulips in her mother’s garden,

the touch of the vibrant green grass,
And the sweet songs of the canaries in the early morning,
And the sensation of the clear blue water on her tan

skin, and the sand between her small toes, and the breathtaking
hues of the seashells.
The new school she attended, shy and anxious, worried she
wouldn’t make friends, feelings she wouldn’t forget,
new faces she would remember.
And the excitement and fulfillment of graduating with her
friends, and the white cap and gown that fell on her
petite body, and the tears of joy she cried as she
grasped the moment of the idea of letting go.
She felt the same as she started high school, anxious,
and shy.

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She was quiet at first, but this time she would overcome it,
She made friends, she laughed, she was happy, she was
growing up.
She enjoyed these moments, remembering in detail, the

feelings of excitement and happiness she would never
forget.
As she grew she held these memories close to her heart,
replaying them when she was sad.
When she was old she would share these memories with her
children,
These things that she held close to her,
These moments she became.

Adeena was selected as a winner
for the Walt Whitman’s Birthplace Association

Thirtieth Annual Student Contest,
A Child Went Forth

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It's so difficult to even know how to begin to write.

How?!? How do we go on? How do we continue when the purest of neshamot that we all had the
privilege and honor to know, a magnificent neshama that touched our lives, has gone on to the
next world and is no longer with us?!?

Unstoppable tears well my eyes, my face is streaked with those tears.....
I'm completely heartbroken to have heard of the passing of our dearest Adeena.

It stings our hearts to know that our precious Adeena Paknoush has returned her neshama to our
Creator. Boruch Dayan Haemes.

She came to Camp Simcha for the first time only this past year, yet the impact she made on each
of us individually and all of Camp Simcha on a whole is that of a most wondrous soul and fun
loving girl we feel like we know for many more years!

Adeena walked into any room and somehow everyone in the room was taken by her! All eyes
would wait to see what she had to say, what her next move was gonna be or who she'd make
smile now! Kind of how she'd come into camp. Everyone wanted to meet her.... everyone wanted
to get to know her! Her charismatic personality drew you to her.

Adeena embraced love that would always surround her. She loved people and she enjoyed giving
to others more than anything!
Whether it was a smile, a kind word or a joke, (sometimes for a great laugh even - lil off color) any
interaction with her would have you giggling, walking away smiling!

The way she wanted to, and accomplished giving chizuk to every other camper and EVERYONE
around her was to be admired. Her extraordinary emunah and bitachon in Hashem lit up the world
around her. Her always believing that everything in this life is directly from Hashem and He gives
only good, was her way of living. Nothing could get her down! She was a warrior.... a fighter! She
was determined to always rise above it all.

When we were crossing the Brooklyn Bridge, at the March of Hope, Adeena was right by my side.
Handing her the microphone, the words ring out in my ears, "I am so lucky, I am blessed, I don't
think for a moment otherwise" "No medicine, no chemo, no drug can help me, only G-d helps me
every day!"

When people would come to visit her, they left stronger and better people than before they
walked in. Her ability to smile through any pain, even cracking jokes till the very last week of her
beautiful life, kept everything and everyone around her happy. People stayed for longer than
expected, not wanting to leave because of the happy environment she created despite any
discomfort she may have possibly been in.
Adeena's family took on a whole new meaning of the word family to so many of us. Her
interactions and relationships with her family made our admiration for Adeena and the Paknoush
family rise to another level completely!

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Her most devoted to her, richly loving, warm, extreme kindhearted parents greeted us together
with Adeena in camp. The beauty in their eyes radiated a love for Adeena like none other. Their
brilliant smiles shone as they gave Adeena the strength she had to come to a camp where she
knew no one. What we learned from them over time is what it truly means to love with your whole
heart!

Her Sisters Tali and Yael remind me of a verse from Pirkei Avot. A chord of three strings is not
quickly broken. The absolute LOVE, the extreme dedication to their sister Adeena, but probably
most of all their complete down to earth hysterically funny sisterly jokes and just simply being her
friend was so treasured by her! That rope of three can never be broken! Adeena is SO engrained in
their every fiber she is always with them.

And Jacob! Sweet! Happiness ! Jacob! How he adored his sister. And how she ADORED him! He'd
bounce into her room- sunshine trailing in his path! His smiles, his conversations and giggles
brought such happiness to Adeena!

Adina epitomized the mitzva of hakarat hatov! From the very smallest thing someone may have
done for her she made it as though you enhanced her entire world with the gratitude she showed.
Not only was she so grateful, but her greatness was she noticed every little thing anyone did for
her and didn't leave out a thing. She acknowledged EVERYTHING done for, or even around her.
Her appreciation for each detail was recognized out loud, and it meant so very much to her!

Adeena with her extreme anaava, in the most humble way, unified everyone around her. Achdus
was so important to her. To bring together all of Hashem's children as one.

My prayer is that this legacy of chizuk, extreme happiness and spreading of simcha, her supreme
emunah and bitachon, love and achdus continues to spread in her zechus.

I daven that Hashem should please give a nechama to her family and everyone who's lives were
touched by her.

May Hashem please have such rachamim and send Moshiach so quickly.

We were so blessed and lucky to have been able to be touched by Adeena z'l's life.

The pain is too sharp. Our worlds loss is irreplaceable.

Our lives are enriched because Adeena was a part of it!

Warmest always, Rivky

Hey crew,

I know this week has been crazy. I can't stop thinking of her either. I can't stop thinking about how I
wasn't even in camp this summer. I knew her for less than 72 hours, how did we become close and
how was i zoche to be in her inner circle? There must have been a reason I met her. There must
have been a reason we all met her and knew her for too short of a time. I keep telling myself that I

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can't be the same person I was before I met her, I have to change for the better. It’s what she
wants and it’s what Hashem wants.
I compiled a list of five lessons that I learnt from her and thought I would share them with you. If
you have any more to add since I'm sure she taught us more please feel free.

May we see her really soon in mashiach!!!

Lessons to learn from Adeena Paknoush a"h

1. Losing Emunah isn't an option - I keep asking myself how was Adeena real? How was she
going through such hard times but able to cheer ME up? How was she able to make me
laugh and cry in the same minute? Where did she get this strength even towards the end of
her short life? It was emunah. She wasn't a normal person, she wasn't natural. Emunah was
the answer to every single question I ever asked myself about Adeena. Emunah made it
possible for Adeena to be the most amazing, hilarious, and selfless person.

"I know we all go through hardships in life, and it makes us question our beliefs in God or if
there is really a God out there, but in reality, if there wasn’t a God, then none of this would be
happening at all. God loves us and he puts us through the hardships in order for us to learn and

become better people. Losing emunah in Hashem is not an option for me!"
– Adeen Paknoush

The next hardship you face, recognize that it’s not Hashem forgetting about you. It's him
paying special attention.

2. It's not always about you- A high school kid is naturally selfish. Factor in a case of cancer
with a teenager and the situation is hopeless. We've all heard rants about the ME generation
that’s obsessed with selfie sticks and posting their every minute on social media. Adeena
lived in this generation and was battling a life threatening illness. However, I can't remember
a single time when Adeena didn't ask about me. Up until the last few weeks she asked me
about my life and knew what I was up to. She was genuinely concerned with how everyone
was doing and was so sensitive to other people's feelings. She had every right in the world
to be selfish, but she didn't take it. She never took it. She taught me that no matter what
you're going through, There’s always a little more room to show care and compassion
towards others.

When you’re having a bad day go out of your way to do something nice for someone else
and ask them to pay it forward.

3. Live in the moment- There were very few things that Adeena hated in this world more than
potato kugel and gefilte fish. One of those things was getting her picture taken. She didn't
want to be known as the girl who had cancer, and therefore any pictures that symbolized
that were not going to happen. Thank G-d Adeena had a lot of great times when she was
sick - we had a Shabbat on for her upstate in the summer, she went to two Broadway
shows with fancy dinners, and she got private concerts by Gad Elbaz and Benny Friedman!

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Yet whenever we would disrupt the fun and ask to take a picture her smile faded. She
would absolutely not accept getting her picture taken. Although I don't know if she intended
for this lesson (she probably did), she made me realize just to be present with the good and
fun times that are happening now. Everything she did, she did it with 100% whether it was
telling a story, talking about her mom's Persian food, or eating a fat hamburger at Bouef. It's
not about the Instagram story or the WhatsApp status- it’s about enjoying what you're doing
with the people you love and care about.

Next time you stop what you’re doing to post or send a picture, think of Adeena-put down
your phone and be present/have fun.

4. Be grateful for the small things- Everyone says that gratitude is the path to happiness. But
it’s so hard. We thank gd every morning starting with Modeh Ani but how many times are
we actually grateful to wake up? Not waking up isn't even on our radar screen (thank G-d).
So it’s hard to be thankful for something we don't really see as a possibility. That might be
true until you've met Adeena Paknoush. If you brought her a mozzarella stick she wouldn't
stop thanking you and depending on how hungry she was, she might even cry of gratitude.
Every small thing anyone did for her was met with a huge and genuine thank you. Even
more so, every small thing Hashem did for her was met with the biggest thanks in the world.
Adeena davened with all of her Hey crew,

I know this week has been crazy. I can't stop thinking of her either. I can't stop thinking about
how I wasn't even in camp this summer. I knew her for less than 72 hours, how did we
become close and how was I zoche to be in her inner circle? There must have been a
reason I met her. There must have been a reason we all met her and knew her for too short
of a time. I keep telling myself that I can't be the same person I was before I met her, I have
to change for the better. It’s what she wants and it’s what Hashem wants.

I compiled a list of five lessons that I learnt from her and thought I would share them with
you. If you have any more to add since I'm sure she taught us more please feel free.

May we see her really soon in Mashiach!!!