Heath was born in Reading Hospital on April 5, 1986. He was such a beautiful little boy.

Heath was just a normal healthy child, doing what normal healthy children do. Went to Crayon Corner, a nursery-preschool from 3yrs till kindergarten. Went to elementary school, participated in bowling, soccer, baseball and basketball. Started high school and bowled and played baseball. Everything still wonderful and healthy. In January of 2003 Heath woke up with severe pain and vomiting. Took him to our family doctor, who then sent Heath for testing and those tests showed the monster...cancer.

Diagnosed with Large B Cell Non Hodgkins Lymphoma

Treated at Penn State Hershey Medical Center. Thank you to the pediatric staff on the 7th floor. Although this brings bad feelings back, your personalities are incredible for the situations of which you work with.
 
Heath went through the chemo protocols, where you needed to be hospitalized. Every 21 days he got a treatment. The monster went away, so we think, but returned about 2 months later. The next plan was the stem cell transplant.

 Stem Cell Transplant at Hershey Medical Center.
Heath was admitted, went through harsh chemo and then Heath had the transplant. Went through the transplant fine and then had radiation. Went away again, but as you would guess, the monster attacked again. A donor transplant was the next option, but didn't have a match and like a 10% chance. We decided to do natural and organic and it seemed ok for awhile, but nothing could get rid of it. Heath and everyone NEVER gave up hope and we were all sure Heath would be ok... and we believed that till November 10, 2004. When you believe something with your whole heart and it turns out different, you just set yourself up for a bigger fall. But without hope and faith, I couldn't imagine this journey.

Heath was presented the following scholarships:

Alvernia College Scholarship

The Big 33 Scholarship

Jacob Albright Scholarship - Albright College

The Conrad Weiser High School, which Heath attended, created a new award in honor of Heath. The award is presented to any senior who had a hardship or injury, that kept them from excelling. After Heath passed away, it then became the Heath Hassler Most Courageous Memorial Award. What a tribute to Heath! Thank you!

Heath graduated from Conrad Weiser High School.
He graduated "7" in his class.
Heath was voted to be a speaker at Commencement.

See audio and video for his fantastic speech.

Started pursuing his future ambition to become a pharmacist by attending Albright College in Reading, PA
Heath was the recipient of the prestigous Jacob Albright Scholarship

Passed away on November 10, 2004 at the age of 18.
This was the saddest day of our lives. No one should have to deal with this. Heath's health started to fail during the last month, but was very much alert and ok. We were all still positive and full of hope! Heath was able to stay home the whole time and 1-2 times a week a nurse would come to check on him. The night before, Heath was restless and didn't sleep well, but thankfully, no pain. On Wednesday, November 10, 2005, Heath said "mom" and fell asleep. We were all there with Heath and it was a very peaceful passing for Heath...and no suffering. As for the family...anyone can imagine. We lost a fantastic friend, son and brother!

Everyone said their final goodbyes to Heath. It was a beautiful service, filled with soooo much saddness. Heath was brought to the church by a horse drawn carriage. It was such a tribute to Heath, it should have lasted for days. Matt, Heath's friend made a video at school and played it at the service. View the video in the audio-video section. The service was standing room only and almost all his classmates attended. At the conclusion of the service, we released 400 white balloons in memory of Heath. The horse drawn carriage took Heath back to the funeral home, to prepare for cremation. We all have an urn and Heath's ashes and some were spread other places. Every night I sit and talk to Heath and handle the urn like it was Heath. I know Heath is home with me and it really helps. Heath is with all of us!

Happy "19" Birthday Heath! It's sad that all we can do now
is write to you or about you, but it is ALWAYS without you
being here. We are always together spiritually, and one day we will be together! Rejoice in Heaven.  

Heath we all want to wish you a very Happy Birthday! Things will be different this year, for this will be the first year without your presence, but we will honor your birthday and rejoice for the eighteen years you were with us. We will always have a cake, candles and balloon for you. Always know in your heart that we are with you, and you are with us. Heath, you are so truly loved and deeply missed! 

With all our Love,   Your Family
   

On this day, one year ago, was the saddest day of our lives. We lost the most special person any one could loose, our son, brother and friend, Heath. Our lives are not the same anymore, nor will they ever be. We are going on and are functioning, as usual, but inside there is so much hurt. You meant the world to us and now we are left with a big void. We had so much to look forward to and so many dreams to come true and now that is all shattered. We do remember how proud we all were at your birth through your toddler years and then you became a young man, a wonderful young man. We do remember your fun things and graduation and your acceptance to Albright. We also remember how hard you fought to live and at the same time succeeded in doing the best you could. We have so many wonderful memories of you Heath, but it is not the same. We hope you can see all the love we have for you and all the things we have planned for your memory. We will ALWAYS remember you, Heath, and all the wonderful memories...we hold close to our heart.  With All Our Love Forever,
                     Your Loving Family                   

Heath Hassler Memorial Scholarship Awards Winners:
Heath Hassler Memorial Scholarship           Meghan Snyder
Heath Hassler Most Courageous Athlete    Jennifer Williams &
                                                                   Justin Burlingame

Heath Hassler Memorial Bowling Tournament Winners:
1. Dale Hebhardt       250.00          
2. Zack Tipsword       160.00                       
3. Jamie Fultz              90.00
4. Jeff Demmy              60.00
5. William Schubrooks  40.00

                 
Bridgeport Raceway Event 
5 trophies were presented to 5 winners in each racing division in Heath's memory.


We would like to thank everyone who participated in these events. You are ALL winners! These events are very important to us, for this is how we keep Heath's memory alive. This is what Heath enjoyed and through all of you, the memories will 
continue to live on!

             ***view the photo album for other pictures***

Happy Birthday Heath! This is the 2 year without you to celebrate! I hope you can see our celebration to you and also the sadness we all share. This is supposed to be a happy time, but those days are gone. We love you and miss you forever!

This is your second birthday that you're not here with us, we will have cake with candles but not the usual fuss. Dolphin balloons hang on your tree and a fountain at your home,

To let you know we think of you, you'll never be alone.

We'll talk and laugh of previous years and wish you were still here,

To hug and kiss and love you, instead of shedding tears. Although you're up in Heaven we know you're having fun, We're sending our birthday wishes to our beloved brother and son!

Happy Birthday, Heath,  Love Your Family

 

 

Heath, this is your 2nd Memorial Service. We had a candlelight service and red roses that we laid at your fountain. We sang to you, prayed to you and cried for you. This is NOT what my future plans were to be. My life shattered 2 years ago today and will never be the same again. We then went in and had cake and ice cream. Bob and I made candy roses in the Dolphin colors for alittle keepsake.  We ended the night releasing the balloons. I hope they reached you and that you know how important you are to us and how much we miss you. Forever missed and loved,  Mom

My Dearest Heath, It has been 2 long years since you went to Heaven. I can't say "became an Angel", because you were always sort of an Angel! There are so many times I want to talk to you and tell you something and I realize I can't. I really miss those talks and laughs. Time does not make it any easier, it just makes us miss you more. I wish this was just a bad dream I could wake up from and go back to normal. I get so angry that our lives turned out this way. I know we will be together again, but what about now? There is so much we are missing out on and so many unanswered questions. I know you are at peace and have a beautiful life, but you would have had it here too. We just want you to know that you are loved by so many and are truly missed! There is no other person with that always smiling, beautiful personality you had. Heath, until the glorious day, when we are reunited, we will look for your signs and you will be in our hearts forever! You will never be forgotten and your memory will live on!

Heath, your 3rd Memorial Service was very nice. It is almost always the same, but there is one thing that will never change...We will always miss you and love you! We had cookies this year instead of cake, and nobody wanted to eat them with your face on...so never again! We released balloons up to you, I hope you got them. Church had altar flowers in your memory, they were nice, the dolphin colors. We do whatever we can to keep your memory alive, Honey. Just know that we love you and miss you dearly and that will never stop. With all my love, Mom 

My Dearest Heath,  Three years ago our hearts broke and changed our lives forever! Three years ago we lost our most precious son, brother and friend, Heath. Three years ago time stood still and is difficult to move forward without you, Heath. Three years is a long time when your emotions consist of sadness, hurt and anger, instead of joy and happiness. We constantly reminisce about the past instead of the future, and if we find ourselves in the future it is, "what if." The happy holidays and special events are just events now, wishing you were here. While we should be celebrating milestones in your life, we now plan tributes and memorials in your honor. These three long years of sadness seem much longer than the eighteen glorious years we had with you. Heath, we miss your smile, laughter and all the fun times. I wish we could go back three years ago when we had the wonderful life. Although these three long years passed, our love for you is still strong and steadfast and will never change. It is the eighteen fantastic years of your life we find ourselves dwelling on and those are the years which surround us with joy and happiness. The three long years will turn to four, five and so on, but those eighteen  wonderful years will always remain locked in our hearts forever! We will always Love you and miss you Heath and you will always remain in our hearts forvever. We look forward to that glorious day when we are reunited and then there will be joy!  With all our Love,  Your Loving Family

Heath Hassler Memorial Scholarship Awards:
Heath Hassler Memorial Scholarship        Lauren Darkes
Heath Hassler Courageous Athlete         Cory Laudenslager
'04 Angels Soccer Scholarshipship           Christina Zampelli


Heath Hassler Memorial Bowling Tournament Winners:
1. T.J Trout                     300.00
2. Kelly Paul                   200.00
3. Luke Blatt                  150.00
4. Steve Keller               100.00
5. William Schubrooks      53.00


Bridgeport Racing Memorial Event:
1.Sportsmanship Award/100.00   -  Sal DeBruno
2.Tough Luck Award/100.00         - Steve Durand


Congratulations to the winners and a special thank you to all who helped keep Heath's memory alive by participating! These events are very special to the family as this is our way to honor Heath. Bowling, School and Racing were what Heath loved the most and this is what these events are all about...to pay tribute and honor to our "Angel" Heath, so that he never will be forgotten. Thank You!

               ***view photos in photo album***

  Happy Birthday Heath!       

Happy Birthday, Honey! As usual it is another sad day for all of us. We will still have parties for you no matter how hard or painful it is for any of us. In our hearts you are still with us and we will continue to honor your memory! You can't imagine how much we wish you were here, and that is all we can do...wish! I hope you knew how much we all loved you and how much we really miss you now! You will always be in our lives and hearts, no matter how many years have passed. I hope your birthday was wonderful in Heaven, Honey, for you only deserve the best! We will always love you and miss you!

Heath Hassler Memorial Scholarship Awards:

Heath Hassler Memorial Bowling Tournament Winners:

Bridgeport Racing Memorial Awards: