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A note of gratitude to a family motivated by love
STORY TOOLS 
More from Other NewsWith husband Rob's blessing, Wendy was going to allow thousands of readers to share the most painful and profound experience of the Slatterys' lives: the gradual loss of their elder son to a rare disease called Sanfilippo syndrome.
With tears in her eyes, Wendy handed the photos of her towheaded boys, Andrew, then 4, and Joey, then 2, to a Star editor and begged us to tell others about the disease.
She wanted nothing, had nothing to gain -- except the little-girl part of her that still wanted to believe if enough people knew about Andrew, he would live.
Thankfully, Joey did not inherit the disease, but at the time Wendy met Star reporter Kim Lamb Gregory and photographer James Glover II, they had no idea if Joey also was going to die from this disorder.
For the past six years that would be the balance of Andrew's life, the Slatterys allowed Gregory and Glover to accompany them to doctor visits and birthdays, through hard times and happy times.
The Slatterys never tried to control the story or tell Gregory and Glover what or what not to write, what or what not to photograph. The family simply opened their home and hearts and spoke honestly about the journey of parents losing a son too soon -- and raising another who must grow up too fast.
The Slatterys' unfailing trust lasted right through the final hours of Andrew's life, when they included Gregory and Glover -- and therefore, all of The Star readers -- into the rawest stage of their grief.
We at The Star are deeply grateful to have been entrusted with Andrew's story and hope we have been good stewards of that trust.
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