Samuel George Anderson

Samuel George Anderson went home to be with the Lord on April 15th, 2025. He was born August 6th 2024 at 24 weeks and spent eight months in the NICU.

Sam showed his personality early on. He had a sweet spirit and a calm disposition, as long as he wasn’t trying to poop. He always responded to his mom’s voice with kicks and eye contact, and later, with squirming and reaching for her. As he developed farther, he learned what to expect from nurses and doctors, frequently giving them the side-eye or glaring at them. His favorite way to avoid people messing with him was to pretend to sleep, then peek with one eye to see if the person was still there. His most common facial expressions were the flirty eyebrow raise and moving his head from side to side when he was content and happy. Smiles often followed soft words from his mom or dad.

Sam loved music. He enjoyed his dad’s guitar playing and singing, which could quickly put him to sleep. His favorite CD, Disney lullabies, could also calm him down. When he got older, he enjoyed pounding on a small keyboard, listening to the notes, and finding octaves. Frequent eyebrow raises and checking mom and dad’s reactions were part of his entertainment act.

Sam also enjoyed being read to. Starting when he was in the womb, his dad read the entire Lord of the Rings to him. In addition to putting Sam to sleep, this activity provided a welcome escape for mom and dad in his hospital room. His dad started reading Heidi next, but this book remains unfinished.

Sam had many stuffed animals, but his favorite was his elephant, which had a small blanket attached to it. His elephant could calm him down quickly. Second-in-command was his Donald Duck, but he had a complex relationship with this stuffy. Sometimes he hugged it, while other times, he might send it flying with a punch.

Sam loved cuddling. Many times, he was agitated until mom or dad picked him up. He would fall asleep almost immediately in his parents’ arms, and his vital signs on the monitors often improved. He always had a good night after being held by one or both parents.

Sam’s survival was a miracle from the first, as his lungs were very premature. His initial prognosis was 5-6 months in the NICU, meaning 2-3 months beyond his due date, as his lungs grew. However, as his lung disease progressed, his condition worsened and grew more complex. He nearly died several times from respiratory events, one of which happened in his mom’s arms. By the time his lungs began to improve, he had developed several other serious health problems that doctors struggled to diagnose and treat. With his lungs in bad shape, his heart was always working too hard. He passed peacefully from a cardiac event, possibly a heart attack.

While Sam’s death was a shock, it was not an accident or a mistake. As Genesis 18:25 says, the Judge of all the earth will do right. All of Sam’s days were written in God’s book, as Psalm 139:16 says. Sam ran the race that God had for him. He now enjoys direct fellowship with God in His presence. His parents are covered by the blood of Jesus, their sins forgiven, and they will see him again. They invite everyone to consider who Jesus is and whether he is calling to them. No one who hears that call should ignore it. As Romans 10:13 says, everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved.

Psalm 126 says that those who go out weeping, sowing seed, will return with songs of joy as they reap their harvest. This is Sam’s legacy. He is survived by his mother, Danae, and father, George. His parents request that any donations be made to Ronald McDonald House Corporation of Northeast Ohio, as they spent eight months at the Cleveland location. Please donate here and mention that the gift is in Sam’s memory: https://www.rmhcneo.org/ways-to-give/donate/

Funeral services will be Saturday, April 26, 2025 at 11:00AM at Tallmadge Bible Church, 1155 East Ave. Tallmadge, OH 44278. Interment will follow at Standing Rock Cemetery. Visitation will be prior to the service from 10:00-11:00AM on Saturday, at the church.

Services in the care of Bissler and Sons Funeral Home, 628 W. Main St. Kent, OH 44240.