LANA'S DREAM
The loveliest Angel,
The world has known,
the brightest Star, That ever shown;

The purest of Soul,
The cleanest of Thought,
The most compassionate Being,
God's hand ever wrought;

She touched us All,
In some special Way,
She taught us then,
As She does Today;

To make Golden rules,
Be not Rules at all
Make them everyday Actions,
Such we all stand tall;

You'll be with us Forever,
For a Spirit never Ends,
You'll help those in this next Life,
With all your Dolphin Friends.

So Lana...
Swim Strong,
Stay Strong,
Be Strong,
Be Lana

Thank You Lana,
You,
Loveliest of Angels
Poem  written by Mark Johnstone, Lana's Step-father.

From the "Galveston Daily News" Obituary
(Lana's Grandfather Joe Bumpas wrote it).

BAYOU VISTA-Lana Ann Ledermann, age 14, of Bayou Vista, Texas was pronounced dead at 12:01 p.mm Monday, January 5, at Jane Briscoe Children's Center, Pediatric ICU of university Hospital in San Antonio, Texas, following  a horseback riding accident on a ranch near Blanco, Texas on New Year's Day.

Lana sustained a traumatic brain injury in the accident and was taken by Life Flight Helicopter to University Hospital where she was placed on life support systems for four days and attended by the very best medical group of doctors and nurses available to no avail.

Having been pronounced brain dead, her body and organs were donated by the family to South Texas Organ Bank, possibly saving up to seven lives and further improving the quality of life for up to 200 people.

Lana's remains will be cremated and part of her ashes scattered in Galveston Bay with the dolphins which she dearly loved. The balance of her ashes will be flown with her father back to a former home in Puerto Rico, to be spread over a bay area where she enjoyed snorkeling.

Memorial service will be held at 6 p.m. Friday, January 9, in Mainland Community Church, 2600 IH 45 in Texas City with pastor Steve Hardwick and Charles Decker, youth director of First Assembly of God Church, Galveston officiating. The Rev.   Allen R. Randle , teacher at La Marque Middle School will read a poem written by Lana in his 7th grad English class last year. Eulogy will be contributed by Lana's aunt, Tracy Bumpas who was riding horses with Lana and friends at the time of the accident. Music will be provided by the MCC Praise Team with special songs by Vanessa Matala, a close friend of the family.

Lana was born at St. Mary's Hospital, Galveston on September 19, 1983, while her parents, Brenda and Steve Ledermann were residing in Dickinson, Texas. After the birth of her brother, Tug, the family moved to Puerto Rico, where Lana attended Fajardo Academy. At the age of 12, Lana, Tug and their mother, Brenda moved to Bayou Vista, Texas and Brenda later married Mark Johnstone.

Lana was a student at La Marque Middle School in La Marque, Texas where she maintained outstanding academic honor roll status along with her brother Tug and cousin Glenn Ray Bumpas Jr.

Her love for animals never ceased and one of her eventual goals in life was to be a marine biologist or oceanographer.

Lana is survived and will be sorely missed by her father, Steve Ledermann of Puerto Rico: mother, Brenda Johnstone; stepfather, Mark Johnstone; brother, Tug Ledermann: maternal grandparents, Donna and Joe Bumpas; uncle and aunt, Glenn and Sharon Bumpas; cousin Glenn Ray Bumpas Jr., all of Bayou Vista, Texas: along with cousin Austin Bumpas of Bacliff, Texas: and aunt Tracy Bumpas of Cedar Creek, Texas; maternal great grandmother, Frances Bumpas; great-aunts and uncles, Susie and Pat Colburn, Sally and Mallory Collens, all of Dallas, Texas; great-uncle and aunt Don and Kay Bumpas of Fort Worth, Texas; and numerous cousins; paternal grandmother, Norene Ledermann of Port Charlotte, Florida; uncles and aunts, George and Suzanne Ledermann of Charlotte, North Carolina, Ken and Gina Daniel's of Washington Depot, Connecticut, Bob and Linda Meisenheimer of Fort Meyers, Florida  and numerous cousins.

Preceding Lana in death was her paternal grandfather, Herb Ledermann of Port Charlotte, Florida and maternal great grandfather, Bill Bumpas of Dallas, Texas.

At the splendid age of 14, amazingly Lana touched the lives of everyone who came in contact with her but the wonderful part of her short life was her love for animals so much, she became a vegetarian at the age of 13. While living in Puerto Rico, Lana became involved with a group, PARE ESTE Inc. striving to develop an animal shelter for the prevention of cruelty to animals. Even after her move to Bayou Vista, she maintained her position on animal cruelty.

Therefore, the family and friends of Lana request that in lieu of flowers and other gifts, donations may be sent to a trust fund set up in her name on behalf of her desire to see that this project be completed: c/o Donnie James, President, Attn: Lana Ledermann Fund, Guaranty Federal Bank FSB, 2121 Market St., Galveston Texas 77550.

You can check out PARE ESTE, INC. web site &
donations can still be made in memory of Lana
http://www.geocities.com/petsburgh/haven/2303

This poem was written by Lana, April 1997, in Mr. Randles class, read by him at the Memorial Service.

But as I stroll the beaches,
And walk beneath the sun,
I wonder to my self, sometimes,
Are we having to much fun?

Do we take it all for granted?
Do we assume we'll have fresh air?
Did we forget what God has given us,
Or just become so unaware?

These times they need a changing,
We must recycle more,
We must learn how to contain ourselves,
And stop this Nature War.

So if we want to live our lives.
And if we're here to stay,
We better put some Nature back,
Let's start that task today

Poem written by her best friend Mary Beth

A FRIEND
A friend is loving, a friend is kind,
a friend will never leave you behind.
A real best friend is always there,
lifting you up when you're lost in despair.
But even when your friend is gone,
and it often seems like you can't go on,
Always remember the joy you shared,
and when you were sad, they showed that they cared.
Then you wonder,
how could I lose someone in a tragedy like this,
especially when it's your friend,
someone you know you will miss.
Even though you loved her so,
because she was so sweet.
You know you'll have to let her go,
because without her Heaven is not complete.

Lana had told me she wanted a pool party for her 16th birthday.
So family & friends gathered at her park bench (above photo)
& planted a blooming shrub before heading to the Bayou Vista pool to celebrate her life.

This is the patch for a quilt that was made in memory of Lana for the "Texas Organ Sharing Alliance" by Mom, Brenda Johnstone.
The beads used were Lana's. She liked to make necklaces for her friends.

The quilt project began in 1997 when donor families were invited by Texas Organ Sharing Alliance to create patches to honor their loved ones. There are now four completed quilts with another in progress.  Saturday, Nov. 13th we went to the " Quilted Memories Dedication"  in Austin.