KrisS has passed away

kai
kai Member Posts: 1
edited March 2014 in Colorectal Cancer #1
I am sorry to tell you that one of your members, KrisS, died on October 6, 2004. I am her sister. She wrote in a letter that I found after her death to: "Please write a note on the CSN support site thanking everyone for the support they provided to me and that I was disabled for a short length of time due to metastasis to the duodenum obstructing my bile duct."

As her sister, I can tell you more than that. Kris was an amazingly positive, energetic, kind person. She was also an accomplished veterinarian. During her journey with cancer she had an incredible spirit that allowed her to sail through her surgeries and chemotherapy treatments. Only when she went off oxaliplatin for a short time last spring, because of some bleeding due to radiation damage to the bladder (note: there was no tumor found there), did the tumor metastases in the liver/bile duct/duodenum seem to progress. Unfortunately neither Erbitux nor Avastin plus oxaliplatin was able to shrink the tumor. Her chemotherapy treatments stopped on September 24, 2004. She had been on TPN for about a month because of an inability to eat very much but other than that she had led a very normal life.

She often mentioned the support group and spoke of many of you as though you were all close friends. You all meant a great deal to her.

Thank you.
Karla
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Comments

  • 2bhealed
    2bhealed Member Posts: 2,064 Member
    #2
    Dear Karla,

    thank you so much for letting us know. My heart breaks for you and your family at this time. I know how it feels because I am not only a survivor but a sister to one who did not survive either. She died 12 years ago at 33. I still grieve her and miss her tons.

    I am just so sorry for you loss. The pain of losing a sister can run deep....

    Do not be surprised if the 2nd year is tougher than the first. Everyone braces themselves for the first year of loss....the first Thanksgiving without Kris...the first Christmas without Kris ...her first birthday that she isn't here....the first anniversary of her death...but what took me by complete surprise is that the second year was worse. And I am not alone in this....I have asked others and they agreed it can be this way.

    Thank you for sharing Kris's spirit with us. I remember her on here.

    Your family will be in my prayers.

    peace, emily who mourns
  • fedester
    fedester Member Posts: 753 Member
    #3
    hi karla,
    i am very sorry to hear of kriss passing. she was a great inspiration to everyone on this board.
    you and your family are in our prayers
    bruce
  • kangatoo
    kangatoo Member Posts: 2,105 Member
    #4
    fedester said:

    hi karla,
    i am very sorry to hear of kriss passing. she was a great inspiration to everyone on this board.
    you and your family are in our prayers
    bruce

    Hullo Karla, Jen and I are full of sadness today. We offer you our love and support at this tragic time. No words can express our sincere sorrow to hear that one of our own--one of our "family" has passed away. I, Kanga(Ross) will forever remember our posts to and from Kris.
    I would like to quote Kris in memory of her positive attitude and humour.
    "Don't let the annoyances of life eat up precious time and energy. Enjoy each day and make the most of it. Don't give up, there is still hope"

    These words Karla inspired us all.
    kindest regards, kanga and Jen
    -from South Australia
  • alihamilton
    alihamilton Member Posts: 347 Member
    #5
    Karla, I am so sorry to hear about KrisS....this is the news that none of us want to hear about anybody, particularly those on this board. I am sure her positive spirit enabled her to make the most of the life she had and that is so important. She is an inspiration to all of us.

    Thank you for letting us know, I had to shed some tears at the news. It makes one realize how we are all so connected on the boards.
  • jsabol
    jsabol Member Posts: 1,145 Member
    #6
    Oh Karla,
    I am so sorry to hear of your sister's passing. I came to know part of her amazing spirit, kindness and energy, particularly last winter, when I underwent surgery and started chemo. I am a nurse, working in dementia care, and so we had both some professional and personal things in common.
    Kris took the time to correspond with me and would provide very thorough and knowledgeable answers to my many questions. She was so consistantly kind and positive and I was so appreciative that she could leave her own struggles to keep reaching out to offer support to me and others. In fact, most of her posts were in answer to others questions and needs; she would always downplay her own concerns and setbacks.
    She meant a great deal to me and many of us here; I will always be grateful for her friendship and support.
    She spoke highly of the support she received from friends and family; sounds like she will be missed by many.
    Thank you so much for posting this difficult news and please accept my sympathy for your loss of an amazing sister. Judy
  • littlejulie
    littlejulie Member Posts: 311
    #7
    I am so sorry to hear this. She gave me advice and support many times. Imagine that - she was the one who was really sick and she was helping me with my mom. I just finished reading her webpage and I'm really going to take her advice...

    " Don't let the small annoyances of life eat up precious time and energy. "

    I really hope she did that. My prayers are with you and your family.

    julie
  • Btrcup
    Btrcup Member Posts: 286
    #8
    Karla, I am so sorry for your loss. Please accept my deepest sympathy. Your family will be in my prayers.

    Linda
  • StacyGleaso
    StacyGleaso Member Posts: 1,233 Member
    #9
    Karla,

    I am so sorry to hear about your sister, Kris. I remember "talking" with her often on this site. She was quite the inspiration to all of us. My thoughts and prayers go out to you and the rest of her family during this time.

    Stacy
  • steved
    steved Member Posts: 834 Member
    #10
    So sorry to hear of your loss. She is a loss too to this community of 'semicolons' where she was a much respected and admired contributer. Her positive attitude and bravery in the face of this illness was admirable and continues to live on in her postings, her advise and her web page which I remember well as being a fabulous example of how a life affirming attitude can make such a difference when living with cancer.

    She will be missed.

    Steve.
  • Lisa Rose
    Lisa Rose Member Posts: 598 Member
    #11
    steved said:

    So sorry to hear of your loss. She is a loss too to this community of 'semicolons' where she was a much respected and admired contributer. Her positive attitude and bravery in the face of this illness was admirable and continues to live on in her postings, her advise and her web page which I remember well as being a fabulous example of how a life affirming attitude can make such a difference when living with cancer.

    She will be missed.

    Steve.

    To Karla And All Kris's Family.

    My Deepest Condolence.

    Lisa
  • bsrules
    bsrules Member Posts: 296
    #12
    Hello!! So sorry to hear of Kris's passing!! It is always hard losing a loved one no matter what has happened or how much you try to prepare yourself!!! My mother died in 1979 of cancer and I still miss her so much!! But what help me through each day with what my husband and I are going through now is that Kris said it best just as my mother did, " Live each day to the fullest and that there is always HOPE!!!!
    You and your family are in my prayers and if you need to talk or vent please post here we will always be there for you!!! Kris was very special to all of us and that extends to her family as well!!!

    Best Wishes and Prayers are heading your way for all of us here!!!

    Sue and Bob from NJ.
  • livin
    livin Member Posts: 318 Member
    #13
    My Deepest Sympathy to the family. She was a very special person. Livin
  • jana11
    jana11 Member Posts: 705
    #14
    livin said:

    My Deepest Sympathy to the family. She was a very special person. Livin

    Kris will be deeply missed. So sorry for your family, and all those who care for her.
    jana
  • cheer3
    cheer3 Member Posts: 105 Member
    #15
    Karla,
    I am so sorry for your loss and pain. Kris was so very kind, and helpful.I will miss her. You are in my prayers.
    Blessings,
    Jean
  • nanuk
    nanuk Member Posts: 1,358 Member
    #16
    Karla: Thank you for sharing Kris's passing with us; she added a great deal to this site, and was always there for anyone who needed information and/or support. Her empathy and energy was apparent in her postings, and she was very much an inspiration to me..although I do not "know" her outside this forum,I know she felt deeply for the
    people. I offer this quote by Elizabeth Kubler Ross, which seems to describe Kris; she will not be easily forgotton..


    "It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth -- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up, we will then begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had."

    God Bless you, Bud
  • taraHK
    taraHK Member Posts: 1,952 Member
    #17
    Dear Karla,
    Thank you so much for writing to let us know. We share in your loss -- and in celebrating her life.
    Tara
  • grandma047
    grandma047 Member Posts: 381
    #18
    I am so sorry to hear of Kris' passing. She was always helping others and I had no idea she was so ill. I will pray that God will comfort you and your family. Mourning is hard to go through. I lost my infant daughter November 30, 1978 and I still miss her. If you need to come here and talk to someone, I'm sure we will all be here for you.
    Love and prayers, Judy(grandma047)
  • Kanort
    Kanort Member Posts: 1,272 Member
    #19
    Dear Karla,

    My heart hurts for you and your family. I'm so sorry about Kris' passing. She was an inspiration to all of us here at this site.

    With deep sympathy,

    Kay
  • juliababy
    juliababy Member Posts: 130
    #20
    Kanort said:

    Dear Karla,

    My heart hurts for you and your family. I'm so sorry about Kris' passing. She was an inspiration to all of us here at this site.

    With deep sympathy,

    Kay

    I am so sorry to hear of your loss. I will keep her in my prayers. Even though I know you and your family miss her dearly, please be comforted in knowing she is with her loving father now and free of all pain.

    God bless you and yours during this very difficult time.

    Susana
  • kerry
    kerry Member Posts: 1,313 Member
    #21
    Karla,

    I am so sorry to hear the news of Kris's passing. Thank you for eulogizing her in such a special way. She was an inspiration to everyone here at this site of the CSN.

    You and your family will be in our thoughts and prayers.

    Kerry

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