I'll always cherish the memories I have of walking with Samantha and her right leg, and having some really serious but special conversations. 
I didn't get to know Samantha's right leg as well as maybe Samantha did, but I will always fondly remember the times we had together. With Samantha."
Brendon was trying really hard not to laugh out loud. Sarah was wiping her eyes but from her face, it was obvious that she was laughing. 
Tyler stepped forward. 
"Samantha's right leg and I have a special relationship.  We met one rainy night when Samantha and her right leg landed in our  backyard, in a rainstorm yet. 
After a pretty tumultuous first year, Samantha and her right leg became a constant companion. We played basketball together, and Samantha and her right leg even had a small part in our Jumpsuit and Levitate videos.  I have many fond memories of the talks Samantha and I would have, while her right leg and I played basketball in our back yard. 
Even though we broke her right leg, unintentionally of course, playing basketball, and then the point guard for Hillhurst High School obliterated her ankle, Samantha's right leg never let her down. 
When we were in an accident in October, Samantha, her right leg and I eventually recovered from our injuries and Samantha's right leg worked hard at physio, allowing Samantha to walk with one crutch and eventually, somewhat short distances without any crutches.  
Unfortunately, after a very hard fight against scar tissue and an infection, we were forced to say goodbye to Samantha's right leg. It was a brave right leg. A good right leg. We will always remember Samantha's right leg fondly."
Brendon, Tyler, Debby, Erin, Jill and Sarah and Josh picked up the 'leg' and walked in procession out of the room. 
I looked over at Samantha. I couldn't quite make out the look she was giving us. She certainly wasn't angry. She wasn't crying. She was, if anything, confused. 
Rosie jumped up on Sam's bed. 
"We have a party for you leg!" Rosie said proudly.
"You had something for my leg," Samantha said, still seemingly not quite sure how to react. 
Tyler came back into the room. We'd asked everyone else to wait outside for a bit after the 'funeral'.  
"So, Sam, what did you think?" He asked. 
"I don't know what to think," Samantha said. 
"You no like the party?" Rosie asked. 
"That wasn't a party, Rosie," Samantha said gently. "That was a very, very strange funeral. I think."
I smiled.
"Sam, we know you're scared, sad and angry. We know you're wondering what losing your leg is going to mean to your future.  But we wanted you to have a chance to grieve. Because I think you've been too angry and scared to really grieve. And once you can do that, maybe we can work towards healing and acceptance," I said. 
Tyler sat beside Samantha on her left side. 
"Sam," he said. "I'm sorry I left here yesterday angry. I wasn't angry at you. Not exactly. I was tired of your attitude and angry that I can't make this better for you. That I can't fix this with a bandaid and a popsicle. But I don't think I took the time to think too hard about how you're really feeling about all this. We were so focussed on getting you well again, we didn't give you a chance to grieve losing your leg, and coming to terms with how much change you're going to go through. 
I'm really sorry that we didn't think about you and how this impacts you as much as we should, considering it was your leg."
Tyler was crying a bit and I saw Samantha had tears in her eyes too. Tyler looked at her quivering bottom lip, the tears in her eyes and pulled her into a hug. The two of them cried on each other. 
"I'm sorry, Sam," Tyler said. "I'm so, so sorry."
"Me too," Samantha said. "But I'm so scared. How am I going to live without my leg? I can't do the things I love to do!"
"You can," Tyler said. "We just need to be a bit creative. But sweetheart, the people who love you, we're not going to look at you any differently. And we're all going to help you navigate all this. We're going to be right by your side helping you learn how to live your best life. If it doesn't include basketball, we'll figure it out. But there are so many ways you can still play. And that's not even something we need to worry about now. Right now, we need to get you better and back home."
"Samantha," I said. She turned her head from Tyler's shoulder, and with tears streaming down her face, looked at me. 
"Samantha, Dad and I, we always want the best for you. We'll go to the ends of the earth to help you find your way in the world. With one leg or two. We're all going to be navigating this new reality. Your new life. We'll all have different roles to play. Dad and I, it'll mostly be as your cheerleaders. But Samantha, we love you so much. And we're hurting too. But we're hurting for you. Because you're hurting and we can't fix this for you so easily."
She extended her arm and I leaned in for a hug. She cried a little more on my shoulder, too.
"I'm sorry I've been such a brat," she said. "But you're right I am scared and sad and angry. Why me? It's not fair!"
"You're right. It's not. You've been through so much and this isn't something that can easily be fixed or medicated to control. But we'll figure it all out," Tyler said.  "When you're ready, we can talk about some options I found for you for basketball. But for now, you can tell us how you're feeling. Even if you're mad. It's okay. We understand. We're so sorry we didn't check in with you properly. We treated this like when you broke your ankle and that wasn't right or fair. We didn't think about the fact that this was your leg. Yes, we knew it was gone but we didn't stop to think about how it impacts you. Beyond the obvious physical impact. 
But Sam, it is going to be okay. It'll be different, but it'll be okay. And we're all going to help you through it all."
"An' I be your nurse!" Rosie chimes in, climbing up onto Sam's bed. I moved away so Rosie could crawl over to Sam. 
"C'mere, RosieRo," Sam said, putting out her arms. Rosie crawled over and for the first time since the surgery, she hugged her little sister, cried on her a little and apologized for being mean.
"Is okay, Sammy.  You was sad. Now you happy?"
"Not quite happy, but happier. Thanks, Rosie posey."
Rosie smiled up at her big sister. Tyler went out into the hallway and brought everyone back in. We had gotten some snacks so we could have a 'reception'. 
Sam's attitude improved tenfold that day.