Saturday, October 1, 2011

Livestrong Day 10/11 - In Memory of a Special Friend


October 2, 2011 is Livestrong Day,  sponsored by Lance Armstrong's foundation.  Today is a day to help raise awareness of cancer and offer support to those who live with it daily.  Over 23 million people in the US live with cancer and my dear friend Emily was one of them.



Emily  was diagnosed with breast cancer seven years ago.She endured surgery, chemo and radiation only to have cancer return the following year in her spine.  It came back each year after that to her brain.  Emily took things in stride and resumed life as usual after each treatment.  She had two brain surgeries, plus multiple rounds of chemo and radiation.  She finally succumbed last weekend at the age of 55, leaving behind her husband and a teen age daughter.


Emily was my hero and inspiration.  No matter what she went through, she lived her life to the fullest, never complaining.  She was a talented artist, devoted mom, loving wife, sister, daughter, loyal friend, great cook, incredible interior decorator, supportive cancer center volunteer, avid animal lover, especially horses, gifted gardener, kind and dedicated special needs children's tutor, art teacher, and children's book author and illustrator. I loved to shop with her at thrift stores and antique malls. Emily was so creative that she could see endless possibilities for an ordinary object.  She expanded my mind constantly! She was the funniest person I know and kept her sense of humor thought it all.  She could make us howl hysterically with laughter, tears streaming down our faces with her hilarious stories about the minute details of everyday life from her perspective. Her special symbol was a dragonfly and she collected them in jewelry, art and crafts.  When I see a dragonfly, I always think of Emily.   The world will be a lot less brighter now that this lovely bright light has gone out.  Until we meet again Em!


I also want to honor some close family members and friends who are living with their own daily struggles - brother in law John with lung cancer, Mary Ann, Emily's friend has breast cancer now too and another friend Steve has stomach cancer that spread to his esophagus.  Many of our friends' pets also have cancer, being lovingly cared for by their guardians. Other people we  know have lost their loved ones this year to cancer. Please hold these courageous people, pets and all the others like them in your thoughts and prayers.  Let's  imagine a world without cancer and maybe one day it will be.

28 comments:

meowmeowmans said...

Thank you for this thoughtful and beautiful post, Cheri. We, too, have been touched by cancer, and we join you in imagining a world without it. What a wonderful world that WILL be.

Purrs, prayers hugs and love to you all. LiveStrong!

Sparkle said...

Many purrs to Emily's family (relatives and extended family) - it is so sad to lose someone so exceptional.

Angel Prancer Pie said...

Great tribute, efun if it did make the Mom a bit leaky-eyed!

Anonymous said...

So sorry for the loss of your friend. Praying a cure is found soon so there will be no more fights or losses to cancer. Very nice post to remember and honor your loved ones. Hugs and nose kisses

HH and The Boys said...

Beautiful post.... LIVESTRONG purrs to you.

pawhugs, Max

Fuzzy Tales said...

((((Hugs))) Your post has made our mom's eyes leak and leak. We're so very sorry about Emily--it seems that she was an exceptional person.

We're purring for All Beings affected by cancer...and sending purrs and purrayers for all to LiveStrong.

Milo and Alfie Marshall said...

Such a beautiful post ~ thank you for helping raise awareness of cancer.

We are so sorry to hear about Emily's loss of life. ((((hugs))) and send love and condolances.

LiveStrong.

Love Milo and Alfie xx

We love LUNA said...

A beautiful homage in so touching post!
Love to your hearts!
Luna

Brian's Home Blog said...

Such a wonderful, wonderful tribute! I really believe we can whip the evil C if we will LiveStrong together!

The Island Cats said...

What a beautiful tribute to your friend! We purr for all of those that have lost their battle with cancer, and for all those still fighting. We purr for the day when cancer is no more! LiveStrong!

Old Kitty said...

Thanks for sharing this beautiful tribute to Emily and supportive thoughts to all your loved ones surviving this disease. Hugs and take care x

Hannah and Lucy said...

That was a wonderful tribute to your friend Emily - she sounds as though she was a very special lady and can't imagine how much you miss her.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx

Cat said...

Thank you for sharing Emily's story, she was indeed an inspirational person and we are so sorry she lost her fight! We wish for a world where no being is effected by this terrible disease!!!

Livestrong and Lovestrong too :-)

Marg said...

Well that was such a nice tribute to Emily. I hope you will show it to her husband and little girl. I know they will appreciate it a lot. It is just wonderful. We too hope that someday there won't be any more cancer.
Wonderful, wonderful post.

Jans Funny Farm said...

We saw Emily's photo in the slideshow but didn't realize it was yours. We're sorry for the loss of your good friend and family members. Cancer is a terrible disease!

Alasandra, The Cats and Dogs said...

We are very sorry Emily lost her battle. She sounds like a wonderful person and a true inspiration.

Purring for those who are battling this dreadful disease, paws crossed they win their battles.

Jacqueline said...

So very sorry for this huge loss last week of Emily; this was a lovely tribute to your precious friend...LiveSTRONG, LoveSTRONG=purrfect...xoxo...J, Calle, Halle, Sukki

Cat and DOG Chat With Caren said...

((((hugs)))) I cannot find the words to adequately express my sorrow for the loss of your friend Emily.

It broke my heart when I read this. She had the same scenario that my mother-in-law had. It just isn't fair. Emily was so young and looked so full of life.

Thank you for sharing her light with us, you are in our hearts, thoughts and prayers

xoxoxo

Angel Gracie=^o.o^= said...

This was such a touching post and beautiful tribute to Emily. I am so sorry for the loss of your dear friend. My heart aches for those that have fought this terrible disease and lost the battle. My prayers go to those fighting this battle and pray then continue to beat this.

Julia Williams said...

beautiful post and tribute to Emily. Purrs to you on this day!

Fr. Tom Fish said...

Thank you for sharing your sadness with us, but also your caring. Those whose lives have been cut short mean so much to us. Their spirit just makes them more alive. Those who are battling the dreaded disease need our prayers.

Hugs,
Tom
xoxo

Pip said...

Our purayers go out to Emily's family. Thank you so much for sharing her story with us.
We can imagine a world without cancer!
Livestrong, TK and Squashies

ANGEL ABBYGRACE said...

Cheri
Just a loving haunting beautiful post to your dear friend Emily. May we one day live in a world without this terrible disease.
(((HUGS)))

Love Strong!
LiveStrong!
purrs
>^,,^<
♥Abby♥Boo♥Ping♥Jinx♥Grace♥

Mickey's Musings said...

We purr that one day there will be a cure for cancer.
We send you big purrs for the loss of a special friend.
Livestrong, Tillie and Georgia

Ellen Whyte said...

Good post, but we're sorry about Emily, Cheri. There are some new anti-virals that seem to be working so we think cancer will soon be a thing of the past. We hope!

The Florida Furkids said...

We purr and pray for a world without cancer. Too many of our friends have left us because of this horrible disease. LiveStrong Every Day!!!

The Florida Furkids and Angel Sniffie

Clooney said...

What a great tribute post. What a special person Emily was. Thinking of you today and of Emily. LiveStrong kitties.

Athena said...

I'm so sorry for the loss of your dear friend. She sounds like a wonderful person.

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