ITS BEEN ONE YEAR SINCE SHE LEFT US (KITTEN 0385)OUR MENTOR AND OUR SPIRIT

MOE58
MOE58 Member Posts: 589 Member
edited March 2014 in Esophageal Cancer #1
Hi all

I don't normally post much, but this is laying heavy on my heart, Some of you will remember this person some of you won't know her.

One year ago yesterday 11-29-10 at 8:30 am our MENTOR Cathy Simmons, aka Kitten0385, left this world and joined our angels above, she was a fighter and never gave up, when I was down she lifted me up when we were wondering why, she would always say its just another bump in the road, This young lady was only 24 when she left us and only been married one year, she had an awesome husband that never left her side, and a wonderful family that always asked why her, and her saying was always WHY NOT ME!, I could not have made it through all my trying times with Jeff in 09 without this lovely lady cheering me on. Cathy never gave up, she fought a hard fight.

Cathy's favorit sayings was "life isn't about waiting for a storm to pass, its about learning how to dance in the rain"

This woman danced in the rain, had many bumps in the road, but she never gave up. Cathy was always with us, in our hearts and in our prayers.

I know I miss her and I am sure there is many on this board that does. When life gets you down, and you don't think you can go anymore, just remember her and the fight she fought and guided us through our journeys.

If everyone can just take one minute and pray and say THANK YOU LORD for getting me this far.

I know I count my blessings more and more each day, it only takes one person to get cancer and you appreciate life so much more.

GOD BLESS YOU CATHY, WE LOVE AND MISS YOU EVERYDAY.

Lori

Comments

  • unclaw2002
    unclaw2002 Member Posts: 599
    #2
    Moe,
    What a lovely thought
    Moe,

    What a lovely thought and wonderful memorial for such a remarkable young woman.

    Lots of hugs and love,
    Cindy
  • Donna70
    Donna70 Member Posts: 852 Member
    #3
    unclaw2002 said:

    Moe,
    What a lovely thought
    Moe,

    What a lovely thought and wonderful memorial for such a remarkable young woman.

    Lots of hugs and love,
    Cindy

    Thanks Lori for reminding us of this awesome woman's passing. She gave us all so much hope and many times she was in dire straits encouraging us while she was in bed with her laptop going thru so much hell, it was unbelievable. She welcomed many to this board and always gave everyone good advice but more than that her example of courage under fire was something many of us would refer to when things got rough for us. If Kitten could dance in the rain during terrible storms, the rest of us had to soldier on. She is our special angel and I am sure she is watching over us all, but still gone way too soon for such a beautiful heart. Thanks, Kitten for being there for all of us.
    Donna70
  • Tina Blondek
    Tina Blondek Member Posts: 1,500 Member
    #4
    Thank You Moe
    Dear Kitten (Cathy) May you continue to rest in peace. Happy Anniversary in Heaven our friend. We think of you often, knowing you are loving and enjoying your new home. Tell my dad I said hello when you run into him!
    Love
    Tina in Va
  • mom of Kitten0385
    mom of Kitten0385 Member Posts: 2
    #5
    Kitten0385
    Hello everyone - my name is Cindy and I am Cathy's (Kitten0385) mom. I myself cannot believe it has been one year since she left us. Cathy was and will always be a remarkable, beautiful young woman, a loving wife, daughter, sister, and friend. To all of you that she had contact with, I hope you know what all of you meant to her. You kept her going. Lori - she talked about you a lot and your husband Jeff. She always talked about the Marshall's and the cute video cards they would send her to lift her spirits. She would lay in her bed and be typing away, telling all of you to keep your chin up and be strong, that you can make it through this. She meant that with all of her heart. I quit looking at postings after we lost Cathy, but decided today to take a look. Thank you to those of you that are remembering her. Please never forget her. She always had advice and good words for anyone that was newly diagnosed, or fighting a long battle. To her friend in Chicago that was also 24 years old, I am sorry I don't remember your name, but Cathy cared deeply about you. I hope you are doing well. To the mom that Cathy talked to who lost her 27 year old son to the same disease, please know that I think of you daily. I miss Cathy so very much - life will never be the same. Again, thank you to all of you - please keep remembering her.
  • JaneE2366
    JaneE2366 Member Posts: 289 Member
    #6
    mom of Kitten0385 said:

    Kitten0385
    Hello everyone - my name is Cindy and I am Cathy's (Kitten0385) mom. I myself cannot believe it has been one year since she left us. Cathy was and will always be a remarkable, beautiful young woman, a loving wife, daughter, sister, and friend. To all of you that she had contact with, I hope you know what all of you meant to her. You kept her going. Lori - she talked about you a lot and your husband Jeff. She always talked about the Marshall's and the cute video cards they would send her to lift her spirits. She would lay in her bed and be typing away, telling all of you to keep your chin up and be strong, that you can make it through this. She meant that with all of her heart. I quit looking at postings after we lost Cathy, but decided today to take a look. Thank you to those of you that are remembering her. Please never forget her. She always had advice and good words for anyone that was newly diagnosed, or fighting a long battle. To her friend in Chicago that was also 24 years old, I am sorry I don't remember your name, but Cathy cared deeply about you. I hope you are doing well. To the mom that Cathy talked to who lost her 27 year old son to the same disease, please know that I think of you daily. I miss Cathy so very much - life will never be the same. Again, thank you to all of you - please keep remembering her.

    Won't forget Kitten
    Cindy,
    I for one will never forget her....I think of her often...I believe she was the first that replied to me when I first joined CSN. I continue to pray for her family....I often wonder how her husband is doing. Thank you for posting.
    Jane
  • MOE58
    MOE58 Member Posts: 589 Member
    #7
    mom of Kitten0385 said:

    Kitten0385
    Hello everyone - my name is Cindy and I am Cathy's (Kitten0385) mom. I myself cannot believe it has been one year since she left us. Cathy was and will always be a remarkable, beautiful young woman, a loving wife, daughter, sister, and friend. To all of you that she had contact with, I hope you know what all of you meant to her. You kept her going. Lori - she talked about you a lot and your husband Jeff. She always talked about the Marshall's and the cute video cards they would send her to lift her spirits. She would lay in her bed and be typing away, telling all of you to keep your chin up and be strong, that you can make it through this. She meant that with all of her heart. I quit looking at postings after we lost Cathy, but decided today to take a look. Thank you to those of you that are remembering her. Please never forget her. She always had advice and good words for anyone that was newly diagnosed, or fighting a long battle. To her friend in Chicago that was also 24 years old, I am sorry I don't remember your name, but Cathy cared deeply about you. I hope you are doing well. To the mom that Cathy talked to who lost her 27 year old son to the same disease, please know that I think of you daily. I miss Cathy so very much - life will never be the same. Again, thank you to all of you - please keep remembering her.

    THANK YOU SO MUCH
    Hi Cindy,

    I am so glad you finally came on and posted, I miss her so much but I know you miss her more, I always have a place in my heart for her, she was a wonderful person and always was full of energy, and you are so right while she was laying in bed fighting this ugly disease she always gave us the best advice possible, Cathy was a very big impact on me when I first signed on to CSN she was the one that got me through my darkest days (now keep in mind this was when she was in remission) she was the one that got me through Jeff's surgery she was always always there for me and what to expect, I could not have made it through my roughest days. Cathy was a mentor for me and especially Jeff, he really looked up to her especially on his most difficult days.

    When Cathy's cancer came back in August 2009 we were heartbroken, Jeff took it very hard, when her's returned, and she always had a smile on her face and when she was told something from the doctor she would always write "just another bump in the road" it was always "bumps" in the road and alot of us on this site use that phrase alot.

    I can remember her being in ICU, being on feeding tubes, IV"S and etc and still writing and checking on us here on CSN, she was an amazing woman.

    When I hadn't heard from her or seen any post i found someone related to her or the family and started asking questions, and thats how I found out when she passed on, When I told Jeff about her passing he took it very hard, and broke down, and said I wish GOD would have took me and left her here on earth (thats how much she meant to him).

    Cindy, you raised a fine young daughter, and a great woman, I am sorry Patrick had to go through all this but sounds like he was a wonderful husband and stuck with her till death do you part.

    Just so you know I talk to ANDY often and you raised a fine young son, he misses his sister alot.

    The Marshall's are wonderful people also and when he reads this he will reply so get ready for a lengthy letter from him

    I cannot imagine the hole in your heart and life loosing a daughter to this ugly beast, but please be reassured that she touched alot of lives through CSN, I know you will never have her to go shopping with to talk to on the phone, or just go see, but know she wouldn't won't you to sit around ask why did GOD take her home so soon, the reason he took her home, is soon after we lost KITTEN we lost so many others with this disease, so she went to make room for them, and now they are all free of pain.

    Please continue to come on we would love to hear from you and please know I sign off all my emails and letters at work with this amazing saying:

    LIFE ISN'T ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORM TO PASS ITS LEARNING HOW TO DANCE IN THE RAIN"

    Cathy certainly danced in rain more than she should have had to.

    Cindy, please know I was honored to know your daughter, even though we never met in person, i knew she was a wonderful person.

    I hope Patrick is well and keeps in touch.

    Much love and hugs

    Lori/aka MOE58
  • mom of Kitten0385
    mom of Kitten0385 Member Posts: 2
    #8
    MOE58 said:

    THANK YOU SO MUCH
    Hi Cindy,

    I am so glad you finally came on and posted, I miss her so much but I know you miss her more, I always have a place in my heart for her, she was a wonderful person and always was full of energy, and you are so right while she was laying in bed fighting this ugly disease she always gave us the best advice possible, Cathy was a very big impact on me when I first signed on to CSN she was the one that got me through my darkest days (now keep in mind this was when she was in remission) she was the one that got me through Jeff's surgery she was always always there for me and what to expect, I could not have made it through my roughest days. Cathy was a mentor for me and especially Jeff, he really looked up to her especially on his most difficult days.

    When Cathy's cancer came back in August 2009 we were heartbroken, Jeff took it very hard, when her's returned, and she always had a smile on her face and when she was told something from the doctor she would always write "just another bump in the road" it was always "bumps" in the road and alot of us on this site use that phrase alot.

    I can remember her being in ICU, being on feeding tubes, IV"S and etc and still writing and checking on us here on CSN, she was an amazing woman.

    When I hadn't heard from her or seen any post i found someone related to her or the family and started asking questions, and thats how I found out when she passed on, When I told Jeff about her passing he took it very hard, and broke down, and said I wish GOD would have took me and left her here on earth (thats how much she meant to him).

    Cindy, you raised a fine young daughter, and a great woman, I am sorry Patrick had to go through all this but sounds like he was a wonderful husband and stuck with her till death do you part.

    Just so you know I talk to ANDY often and you raised a fine young son, he misses his sister alot.

    The Marshall's are wonderful people also and when he reads this he will reply so get ready for a lengthy letter from him

    I cannot imagine the hole in your heart and life loosing a daughter to this ugly beast, but please be reassured that she touched alot of lives through CSN, I know you will never have her to go shopping with to talk to on the phone, or just go see, but know she wouldn't won't you to sit around ask why did GOD take her home so soon, the reason he took her home, is soon after we lost KITTEN we lost so many others with this disease, so she went to make room for them, and now they are all free of pain.

    Please continue to come on we would love to hear from you and please know I sign off all my emails and letters at work with this amazing saying:

    LIFE ISN'T ABOUT WAITING FOR THE STORM TO PASS ITS LEARNING HOW TO DANCE IN THE RAIN"

    Cathy certainly danced in rain more than she should have had to.

    Cindy, please know I was honored to know your daughter, even though we never met in person, i knew she was a wonderful person.

    I hope Patrick is well and keeps in touch.

    Much love and hugs

    Lori/aka MOE58

    Cathy
    Hi Lori - thank you for the reply. I am happy you are using Cathy's saying. Andy bought me a beautiful plate and I have it hanging on my living room wall above a photo collage of Cathy. I also have it on my desk at work next to her picture. We are off work for a week for the holiday break and it's been very hard. Cathy and I spent every day together during Christmas break and summer break. We would go the mall - I am sure you know Cathy loved clothes and shoes :) I am not much of a shopper but I would hold her clothes and go find different sizes, etc. for her. We always had a great time. You are right - it is hard to not have my phone ring and hear her voice - to be able to go over to her house to watch a movie - etc. etc. The list could go on for miles. Cathy was a teacher and one of her students recently wrote an essay about her. Her classroom assistant e-mailed it to me. It made me cry at first, but then I smiled, as she touched so many lives. She has always had a huge heart - for children, for animals, for anyone in need. She was fortunate enough to have married her best friend, Patrick. He is a phenomenal young man. He is doing well and hanging in there. He misses her deeply. You're right - I do have a great son also. He is also a teacher. He does miss his sister. He got married in June and Cathy was supposed to be one of the bridesmaids. So Andy and his wife had a beautiful vase etched with Cathy's name and filled it full of "star gazer" lillies. The groomsman she was going to walk with carried her vase. It was hard, but it was very touching. Even though she was not there in body - we know she was with us.

    Thank you for telling me how much Cathy touched your lives. That means everything to me.

    How is your husband doing? I hope he is doing well.

    Do you know anything about the 24 year old gal from Chicago that Cathy used to talk to on this site? I am always wondering about her. She was also a teacher.

    Thank-you again Lori. I will check back soon :)
  • Unknown
    Unknown
    #9
    mom of Kitten0385 said:

    Cathy
    Hi Lori - thank you for the reply. I am happy you are using Cathy's saying. Andy bought me a beautiful plate and I have it hanging on my living room wall above a photo collage of Cathy. I also have it on my desk at work next to her picture. We are off work for a week for the holiday break and it's been very hard. Cathy and I spent every day together during Christmas break and summer break. We would go the mall - I am sure you know Cathy loved clothes and shoes :) I am not much of a shopper but I would hold her clothes and go find different sizes, etc. for her. We always had a great time. You are right - it is hard to not have my phone ring and hear her voice - to be able to go over to her house to watch a movie - etc. etc. The list could go on for miles. Cathy was a teacher and one of her students recently wrote an essay about her. Her classroom assistant e-mailed it to me. It made me cry at first, but then I smiled, as she touched so many lives. She has always had a huge heart - for children, for animals, for anyone in need. She was fortunate enough to have married her best friend, Patrick. He is a phenomenal young man. He is doing well and hanging in there. He misses her deeply. You're right - I do have a great son also. He is also a teacher. He does miss his sister. He got married in June and Cathy was supposed to be one of the bridesmaids. So Andy and his wife had a beautiful vase etched with Cathy's name and filled it full of "star gazer" lillies. The groomsman she was going to walk with carried her vase. It was hard, but it was very touching. Even though she was not there in body - we know she was with us.

    Thank you for telling me how much Cathy touched your lives. That means everything to me.

    How is your husband doing? I hope he is doing well.

    Do you know anything about the 24 year old gal from Chicago that Cathy used to talk to on this site? I am always wondering about her. She was also a teacher.

    Thank-you again Lori. I will check back soon :)

    This comment has been removed by the Moderator
  • MOE58
    MOE58 Member Posts: 589 Member
    #10
    mom of Kitten0385 said:

    Cathy
    Hi Lori - thank you for the reply. I am happy you are using Cathy's saying. Andy bought me a beautiful plate and I have it hanging on my living room wall above a photo collage of Cathy. I also have it on my desk at work next to her picture. We are off work for a week for the holiday break and it's been very hard. Cathy and I spent every day together during Christmas break and summer break. We would go the mall - I am sure you know Cathy loved clothes and shoes :) I am not much of a shopper but I would hold her clothes and go find different sizes, etc. for her. We always had a great time. You are right - it is hard to not have my phone ring and hear her voice - to be able to go over to her house to watch a movie - etc. etc. The list could go on for miles. Cathy was a teacher and one of her students recently wrote an essay about her. Her classroom assistant e-mailed it to me. It made me cry at first, but then I smiled, as she touched so many lives. She has always had a huge heart - for children, for animals, for anyone in need. She was fortunate enough to have married her best friend, Patrick. He is a phenomenal young man. He is doing well and hanging in there. He misses her deeply. You're right - I do have a great son also. He is also a teacher. He does miss his sister. He got married in June and Cathy was supposed to be one of the bridesmaids. So Andy and his wife had a beautiful vase etched with Cathy's name and filled it full of "star gazer" lillies. The groomsman she was going to walk with carried her vase. It was hard, but it was very touching. Even though she was not there in body - we know she was with us.

    Thank you for telling me how much Cathy touched your lives. That means everything to me.

    How is your husband doing? I hope he is doing well.

    Do you know anything about the 24 year old gal from Chicago that Cathy used to talk to on this site? I am always wondering about her. She was also a teacher.

    Thank-you again Lori. I will check back soon :)

    CINDY-WE LOVE YOU TOO
    Cindy,

    I sent the Marshall's a e-mail letting them know you came on board he will be replying soon to your letter so please check back it takes him awhile to get his thoughts together and put down what he wants to say. Just pull up a chair though when he does cause you will need it.

    I am not sure who the 24 Year old gal from Chicago was? I am sure someone if not the marshall's will know who that person is, i am just not familar with that person.

    Cindy, Jeff is doing well, thankfully when he was diagnosed he was only stage 2 and while doing Chemo the tumor shrunk, then his surgery, so he has done well, he still goes every 3 months for a scan to make sure nothing is coming back, or is there. If things go well and make it to April 2011 it will be 2 years since diagnosed. He has lost alot of weight since diagnosed, and he has to eat different but all in all doing well.

    I know its hard to come on here but its therapy, and it sure helps me. Maybe you will be able to help another mom sometime.


    Please know I always think of her no matter what.

    I hope in 2011 brings you much happiness and a better year.

    Lori

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