We lost a very special young man last week in Santa Barbara. Sam Osterhage was a senior at Dos Pueblos High School. Heplayed on the boys water polo team. Sam wasa passionate musician playing at Rockshop Academy. But those were just the things he did, this does not begin to touch on the person he was.Sam was a young manwho touched literally hundreds of lives. He had a huge heart and a gift for always seeing the positive. Despite this very difficult journey of being in and out of a hospital for the past year, he maintained his sense of humor and his faith.
My heart breaks for his parents who lost their little boy and for Jessiewho lost his big brother. My daughters along with so many of their friends have known Sam for years and it has been difficult to explain to them as they try to process their grief why someone so young and with so much living still to do is taken at such a young age. It doesnt make sense and it makes us feel so powerless. What we can dois celebrate the time we had with him and be grateful that we had the chance to know him.
Samwas diagnosed the pastMarch with Cardiomyopathy. After months of being in and out of the hospital, he was finally given a mechanical heart last week. There were complications following the surgery and he underwent several more surgeries over a two dayperiod. He went into a coma last Wednesday night and on Friday morningSam was taken off life support just weeks before his eighteenth birthday.
His mom, Judy Osterhage has shared their journey on the TEAM SAMO Facebook page. Withmore than 1,500 followers, it is easy to see the impact Sams life has had on so many.
Keep Sams family, his younger brother Jessie and his parents, Steve and Judy in your prayers.
MEMORIES FROM A FEW THAT KNEW SAM
Sam was one of the kindest individuals I ever had the pleasure of knowing, let alone calling my friend. He had so much love for everyone around him.
The shadows of the past few days have proved your sunshine. You were a light to everyone in the world.
Your personality could bring a smile to anyones face.
I still cant believe you are gone, because the impression you left on me is something that will last forever.
You know you are loved by so many and always will be. You heart is so big and so strong and has taught us all to never give up. I honor you Sam. You have taught us all such a beautiful lesson about this thing we call life and that we must always live it simply.
I dont think I have ever seen such a clear example of a boy who created such a magnificent impact in the hearts of everyone around him. Sam, and all the love and warmth that came with him, with his hugs that everyone is talking about, with his music, and his smile, lives on in our hearts and memories.
He was so caring and selfless. The world has truly lost someone incredible.
He was the biggest water polo player ever, not just in size but in heart. When we would play against each other, he would always greet me with a big old smile and ask me how Im doing. In just 3 months of playing with him, I could see how compassionate, how kind hearted, how overall great of a guy Sam was.
September 24, 2014PCRS
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We lost a very special young man last week in Santa Barbara. Sam Osterhage was a senior at Dos Pueblos High School. Heplayed on the boys water polo team. Sam wasa passionate musician playing at Rockshop Academy. But those were just the things he did, this does not begin to touch on the person he was.Sam was a young manwho touched literally hundreds of lives. He had a huge heart and a gift for always seeing the positive. Despite this very difficult journey of being in and out of a hospital for the past year, he maintained his sense of humor and his faith.
My heart breaks for his parents who lost their little boy and for Jessiewho lost his big brother. My daughters along with so many of their friends have known Sam for years and it has been difficult to explain to them as they try to process their grief why someone so young and with so much living still to do is taken at such a young age. It doesnt make sense and it makes us feel so powerless. What we can dois celebrate the time we had with him and be grateful that we had the chance to know him.
Samwas diagnosed the pastMarch with Cardiomyopathy. After months of being in and out of the hospital, he was finally given a mechanical heart last week. There were complications following the surgery and he underwent several more surgeries over a two dayperiod. He went into a coma last Wednesday night and on Friday morningSam was taken off life support just weeks before his eighteenth birthday.
His mom, Judy Osterhage has shared their journey on the TEAM SAMO Facebook page. Withmore than 1,500 followers, it is easy to see the impact Sams life has had on so many.
Keep Sams family, his younger brother Jessie and his parents, Steve and Judy in your prayers.
MEMORIES FROM A FEW THAT KNEW SAM
Sam was one of the kindest individuals I ever had the pleasure of knowing, let alone calling my friend. He had so much love for everyone around him.
The shadows of the past few days have proved your sunshine. You were a light to everyone in the world.
Your personality could bring a smile to anyones face.
I still cant believe you are gone, because the impression you left on me is something that will last forever.
You know you are loved by so many and always will be. You heart is so big and so strong and has taught us all to never give up. I honor you Sam. You have taught us all such a beautiful lesson about this thing we call life and that we must always live it simply.
I dont think I have ever seen such a clear example of a boy who created such a magnificent impact in the hearts of everyone around him. Sam, and all the love and warmth that came with him, with his hugs that everyone is talking about, with his music, and his smile, lives on in our hearts and memories.
He was so caring and selfless. The world has truly lost someone incredible.
He was the biggest water polo player ever, not just in size but in heart. When we would play against each other, he would always greet me with a big old smile and ask me how Im doing. In just 3 months of playing with him, I could see how compassionate, how kind hearted, how overall great of a guy Sam was.
Category: Local news & spotlights
Ive only known Sam through the TEAM SAMO Facebook page, but from what Ive learned Id say I quickly came to think of him as a beloved nephew. Sam certainly made many of our worlds richer places. Richard Nelson
Sam, you made a difference to do so many. I feel luck for knowing you.