Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Final Post for Four Dog Day

Hello to all Kathy's Blog Friends...

In honor of our mom, this is the final post for Four Dog Day.

In October 2010, Kathy began to notice something strange happening. She described it as though her "auto-pilot" was not working the way it once did. She found herself having to think hard about whether to take a left turn instead of a right, or where to put her fingers on the computer keyboard, These changes lead her to get an MRI, which identified a malignant lemon-sized tumor growing in the Parietal Lobe of her brain. Kathy went on to have 2 surgeries. Her first Surgery was performed in November and as much of the tumor as possible was removed. Kathy went to in patient rehabilitation to help her work through the deficiencies she experienced after her surgery, including significant vision loss in her left eye. After coming home, she continued with in home physical and occupational therapy. It was always her goal to get back online. She wanted to share her story in the hopes that she could help just one person.

In early December, Kathy experienced, "The Fall That Saved Her Life." Kathy slipped in the bathroom and bumped her head. A precautionary MRI was done and it found that Kathy was not recovering the way all had hoped, due to a life-threatening surgical complication and tumor re-growth. One of the ventricles in Kathy's brain was not draining fluid properly, leaving her in a near fatal state. Two more surgical procedures were performed which temporarily saved her life. Kathy had her second surgery in hopes of permanently fixing the ventricle and removing the majority of tumor re-growth. She again went into an in-patient rehabilitation facility to help her regain her strength and then came home to continue rehabilitation and to begin treatment.

Kathy went through radiation and 2 rounds of chemotherapy. But on April 14th, we found out that her cancer had spread to the point where no other medical interventions would help her. Kathy came home that day, still with positive hopes. We all moved into our parents house. We stayed with her 24 hours a day. On April 23rd, surrounded by our dad and the 3 of us, she passed away. Her 6 month battle was over.

In our life we have never met anyone more positive, more hopeful. Our mom was a ray of light. Always optimistic. Her blog was one way she shared her amazing personality with all of you. While our mom was never able to tell her cancer story herself as she wanted to, she was able to share herself over the past 2 years with you on her blog. That is one of the many beautiful legacies she has left behind - for us and for all of you.

Please support cancer research so that no one has to go through what Kathy and our family went through. A organization that helped our family significantly at the onset of our mom's diagnosis was the American Brain Tumor Association - www.abta.org.

Thank you,
Tresa, Michael & Matt (Kathy's Children)

53 comments:

PussDaddy said...

Oh my, I aM so sorry to hear this. I really am. My condolences to her friends and family.

PD

happileah said...

I'm so sad & sorry to read this! Kathy will be missed. I'm so very sorry for your loss. xo

Teresa Evangeline said...

Kathy had crossed my mind a few times this spring and I wondered how she was, what had happened. I thought perhaps she was busy with all the cool Etsy items she had so much fun creating. I am so sorry for your loss. I enjoyed her blog posts and her comments on my blog. I trust you're all finding peace through the same optimism Kathy had towards Life. My Condolences and Best Thoughts as you move forward, remembering her with love.

Tins and Treasures said...

Good Morning,Tresa, Michael & Matt,
I am shocked and saddened by the news of your dear mom's illness and death. I am very sorry for your loss. Your mom was full of energy and I could tell that family was important to her. She loved each of you so, and treasured the times when your family spent time together.

We visited each other's blog regularly and she always had the sweetest comments. We will miss her here. My thoughts and prayers are with all of you.

Take care, ~Natalie

DUTA said...

I'm very sad by the news of Kathy's battle and death. She was indeed a positive, optimistic ,gifted person.

May her soul rest in Peace, and May God comfort you and your Dad!

Thanks for sharing your Mom's final episode with her blog followers and friends. She'll be missed by them.

Anonymous said...

I still miss her wonderful posts and her emails. She followed my blog very early on and counted her as one of my online friends.

I loved how she was so delighted with the birth of her graendson. She documented her daught-in-law's pregnancy with the sweetest blog posts.

I'm so glad she shared you with us and that I got to be her friend for such a short time.

Bless you and thank you for giving us one last glimpse of this amazing woman.

aliceinparis said...

I am very saddened to hear of this:( Kathy was an inspiration, always so positive, full of ideas and encouragement. Such a proud Grandmother and mother! I enjoyed reading about her life and plans.She packed a lot into it.
My thoughts go out to you, her family and may you find some comfort in the knowledge that she touched a lot of lives in many positive ways.
xoxoxox
"I've missed you Kathy"
Shelagh

Anonymous said...

I am so sorry. I've been wondering what happened and checked in on occasion here and at her Etsy shop--when I read "family illness" I prayed that all was okay, especially thinking of that new grandson. Kathy was a lovely woman, so crafty and clever and full of generous spirit. What a loss you have experienced. Thank you for telling her story to the rest of us.

LiPeony said...

I'm so sad and sorry for your loss. Like the others I also wondered what happened. I read her wonderful blog I know she was a wonderful person.

Matty said...

I'm in shock. I had no idea. I even wrote an email asking about her absence and received no reply.

Kathy made me a camera case with baseball designs on it. She knew how much I love baseball, and her craftsmanship was great. As I had to give her my name and address to send it, she was one of the handful of people who I trusted enough to give my real name and address.

I will miss her, and my condolence to all of you. She was a special person.

Matty

Sandee said...

I'm so sorry about your loss. I came over from Matty's place where he did a post about how special your mom was. Bless all of you. :)

Formerly known as Frau said...

I'm so sorry for your loss my thoughts and prayers are with your family. ((Hugs))

Mike Golch said...

May god grant you the strenght to carry on.I grieve with over the loss of your Mom.I know the pain of losing your Mom to Cencer, Lung cancer took my Mom in 2003.Bit time Hugs and Prayers.

Intense Guy said...

Cancer is such a horrible thing - and it strikes so many...

...and some give up...

...and some never waver in their good spirits and attitude...

...and its the latter...

...like your mother...

...that are precious role models for us all.

With much sympathy -

Teresa said...

your mom has been on my mind and in my prayers many times over the last several months. i shall never forget her kindness or her "presence" in the blog world. i loved reading her posts about Tresa's pregnancy and the birth of her grandson.

my deepest condolences to your entire family.

KayzKreationz said...

I am so sorry for your loss. Thoughts are with you.

My Inspired Reality said...

Kathy's comments on my blog still bring a smile each time I read it. Amazing how we had so many things in common. She left a wonderful legacy in her children. I will miss her a great deal. Hugs.

Anonymous said...

I'm so sorry to hear about Kathy. I pray that you and your family will find comfort in God at this time. ~Ron

Just A Normal Mom said...

I came over from Matty's blog, as well. My heart goes out to all of you. I've very sorry for your loss. I'm also very supportive of cancer research. I pray that some day a break through will spare many from your, and her, pain.

Donna B. said...

OH NO! I am so sad to hear this! I had no idea. I kept checking with her and would not hear anything...I did not want to think negative so sent her positive thoughts.

God Bless all of you. I am so sorry for this horendous loss. Kathy will definitely be missed by all her blogging friends...

Pretty Things said...

I'm so, so incredibly sorry for your loss.

Claudya Martinez said...

My condolences.

Adaptable Kay said...

Matty sent me over from Matty Thoughts.

I am so sorry to hear about your mom's passing-My heart and thoughts go out to you and the rest of your family, and all those people effected by her loss.

Jo-Anne's Ramblings said...

Reading this made me cry although I was not a follower of her blog as I was away from blogging for a while myself I still feel a loss. I am sending warm thoughts and virtual hugs your way and want to say a big thank you for this post letting all who did follow her know what has happened.................

Unknown said...

the blogging world is lessened by Kathy's loss. Peace.
Rosemary

Joanna Jenkins said...

I've watched for new postings from Kathy and assumed she was enjoying her beautiful grand baby and busy with business.

My heart sank as I read this post but thank you so much for letting us know what happened. I will say extra prayers for you all.

Kathy was so kind to me and a pleasure to get to know in blogland. She cheered me on a number of times and I welcomed her new posts.

I am terribly sorry for your great loss. She was a very special woman.

xo jj

Lifeofkaylen said...

So sad for you and your family! She seems like she was a wonderful human and touched many lives.
Take care.

Mrs4444 said...

I'm so sorry...

I'm active in my local Relay for Life, even though I don't know anyone with cancer. (I hope to keep it that way.)

Love to you and your family...

Unknown said...

I am so very sorry for your loss....a special woman indeed....take care of each other, and yourselves...smiles.

Alexandra said...

I had just gotten to know Kathy in the blogosphere.

I am so sad to hear this.

And so very sorry.

Joyce said...

I wish I had a magic wand or the perfect words to say at this time. In blog world a lot of us never get the chance to meet one another, but there is a friendship and bond as we share our everyday lives. Your mom was so proud and loved her husband, her children and new grandbaby. She loved not only her family, but her crafts. I enjoyed reading her posts of how she and your dad would be busy beavers get things ready for the craft shows.
Two things she shared via emails/posts that comes to mind and make me smile through the tears was the Christmas gift she was buying for her daughter-in-law, the big furry hat. The other one is how she and your dad were helping clean the downtown condo so you could get it ready to sell.

The next time I see the sun shining so bright I know these are hugs coming from above from one special angel to her family and friends.

My heart and prayers go out to you all. xo

DJan said...

She must have been a very tender and loving person, for so many people to have loved her so much. I am sorry for your loss, and all of us are diminished by her passing. Thank you so much for taking the time to tell her blogging friends what happened.

Ina in Alaska said...

I am here from the Fifty Factor to express my sympathy to you all. So sorry for everything your mom had to endure. Hugs to all of you xoxo

Anonymous said...

Thank you for sharing this with the other bloggers "out there". Our sympathies to all of you.

Anonymous said...

Thank you for these final words. Although I did not know your mother until today, reading another blog post brought me here, I can tell she was a very special person with a zest for living. Her words will definitely live on even though she has left blog land. My deepest sympathies to your family for such a huge loss.

gayle said...

I am so very sorry to hear about your mom's passing!
Thank you for sharing.

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

I lost my mother in February, after she battled a long illness while living in my home, under hospice care. I know the strength and positive attitude of which you write.

God bless you all as you learn to navigate your new 'normal'. Your mom watches over you.

Hilary said...

I'm so sorry for your loss.

CiCi said...

I just read about Kathy in Joanna's blog and want to add my condolences to the many already here. Kathy sounds like an amazing woman. You three were so blessed to have her for your mom.

RNSANE said...

I am here, after reading about your mom on Joanna Jenkins, The Fifty Factor. I just wanted to say how sorry I am that your mother lost her life to such a horrible disease. I'm an RN of 45 years, for the last 21 years doing forensic - adult rape and child sexual abuse - and lost my job three years ago in massive budget cuts - at the age of 64. Blogging became a way to survive and keep me connected to people. It sounds like your mother touched a lot of lives.

I will keep your family in my prayers. I'm sorry I never met Kathy earlier. Blessings to all of you.

Marisa said...

I am so sorry to here the news of your mother's passing. My thoughts are with you and your families.

Nancy/BLissed-Out Grandma said...

I am so sorry to learn of your loss. Kathy was so positive, so excited about her crafts and ventures, and thrilled by the arrival of that grand-baby. We often commented on one anthers posts and then replied back and forth by email. I felt that we were becoming friends, and I am sad that you and we have lost her.

Carrie said...

Hi. Your mom is an inspiration to all of us. She was so kind to leave comments on my blog, often connecting about her babies and grandbabies. My sincerest condolences on your loss, and please know how many lives your mom touched. Wishing you peace and sending love your way.

Malissa said...

I can't even begin to say how sorry I am. I have not really been blogging lately and just found out. My heart is broken for you all. She was a very special woman and will be missed greatly by those whose lives she touched-even if only thru the internet.
Malissa

Lori P said...

I am so sorry. Crying at the moment because of your loss. Out of the blue, I thought about her today. It had been a long time but I remembered her mentioning surgery.

My own mom died this January and I can fully relate. Believe it or not, she visited me in a dream son after - except it was not a dream. I came away knowing that she was so good, beautiful, healthy. Hope you are all doing well and know that her spirit is with God now.

Lori P said...

I forgot to add that I "met" Kathy when my daughter was very sick and she took the time to email me with LOTS of helpful information. She was such a sweet lady.

Unknown said...

So sorry for your loss... I know your mom is looking down on you..
love from Norway. xxx

Karen said...

Your mom was always a faithful upbeat commentator on my blog. I was just going through my old comments and clicked through to her blog. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. She made me feel heard when my blog was just beginning. With her one-line comments, I knew someone was reading and that kept me posting. You can never estimate her complete impact on others.

Karen said...

Your mom was always a faithful upbeat commentator on my blog. I was just going through my old comments and clicked through to her blog. I am so sorry to hear of your loss. She made me feel heard when my blog was just beginning. With her one-line comments, I knew someone was reading and that kept me posting. You can never estimate her complete impact on others.

Kittie Howard said...

Oh, my God! I've got tears in my eyes. I'm so sorry for your loss and send my deepest sympathies.

Like the commenter above, I was going through old posts and clicked through to her blog. Your mom was one of my first followers. She was always up-beat and encouraging. She had enormous talent and worked hard. Above all, Kathy loved her family. She's smiling on you from heaven.



pilgrimchick said...

This is a very late visit, but my heart truly goes out to you. I am so sorry for your loss. Thank you so much for sharing with us what happened.

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