Sophie: Simi’S ''Little'' Saint

By Thomas John Lafferty Jr.

This is the true and touching story of Sophie Maria Nowina Konopka and her battle with leukemia, her valiant fight for life, her precious spiritual journey, the people she touched, and the many lives she changed forever. We called her Little Sophie because her body was so frail, but spiritually she was so vibrant. The miracle she brought was not the one we prayed for but the one God wanted us to have, simply to know her and to love her. And how we loved her! She represented all suffering children and she reached the hearts and minds of more than 100,000 people throughout the world. And now you will meet her.

Thomas John Lafferty Jr.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Nov 27, 2013
• ISBN: 9781493100316

Book preview

Sophie

SIMI’S LITTLE SAINT

Thomas John Lafferty Jr.

Visit Sophie’s website at

sophiesimislittlesaint.com

Copyright © 2013 by Thomas John Lafferty Jr. 141133-LAFF

ISBN: Softcover 978-1-4931-0030-9

EBook 978-1-4931-0031-6

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Rev. date: 11/14/2013

To order additional copies of this book, contact:

Xlibris LLC

1-888-795-4274

www.Xlibris.com

[e-mail]

Contents

Acknowledgments

Foreword Reverend Father Joseph P. Shea

Preface

PART I Sophie, through my eyes!

Introduction

Chapter 1 Sophie through My Eyes

Chapter 2 The Teddy Bear

Chapter 3 Oh, When the Saints...

Chapter 4 The Prayer Chain

PART II Sophie, through the eyes of others: A Love Story!

Chapter 5 Poland to California A New Generation of Heroes

Chapter 6 Two Sides of Sophie

Chapter 7 Sophie’s Journey Begins

Chapter 8 Sophie’s Best Friends

Chapter 9 Love and Non–Love

Chapter 10 The Ten Commandments According to Sophie

Chapter 11 Simi’s Little Saint

Chapter 12 Her Sacraments Baptism

First Holy Communion

Confirmation

The Last Rites

Chapter 13 Sophie’s Funeral

Chapter 14 Roses from Heaven

Letter From Heaven Author Unknown

Appendix / Eulogies

Eulogy of Chris Zawitkowski

Sophie’s Song

This book is dedicated

to all the sick children

in the world.

Image5014.tif

Sophie, age 5, has been battling leukemia since she was 2 years and 5 months old. She has already undergone two bone marrow transplants. She is physically drained from the fight, but her spirit is strong. She recently asked and was given her first Holy Communion, she wanted to carry Jesus in her heart. She exudes the purest innocence, yet in her short life, she has become so traumatically experienced. Sophie asks for your prayers, to help her with the terrible pain her little body endures, so strong that she even cries in her sleep. As her parents, we are forever grateful for the warm hearts that care, and wish to help.

Maria & Michal Nowina Konopka

May 2012

Sophie’s Prayer Card Page 4

This is the true and touching story of Sophie Maria Nowina Konopka and her battle with leukemia, her valiant fight for life, her precious spiritual journey, the people she touched, and the many lives she changed forever. We called her Little Sophie because her body was so frail, but spiritually she was so vibrant. The miracle she brought was not the one we prayed for but the one God wanted us to have, simply to know her and to love her. And how we loved her! She represented all suffering children and she reached the hearts and minds of more than 100,000 people throughout the world. And now you will meet her.

Thomas John Lafferty Jr.

Acknowledgments

I would first of all like to thank my wife of 45 years, Julie Lafferty, for all her patience, love and understanding in helping me write the story of Sophie, Simi‘s Little Saint. Without her encouragement and help in editing this book, it would not have been written.

Most importantly I want to thank Sophie’s parents Maria and Michal Nowina Konopka, as well as Anna and Chris Zawitkowski, her maternal