Monday, August 30, 2010

It has been a hard couple of weeks.

I really have not been inspired to come on here and write, for a couple reasons. One being that there is nothing to report adoption wise, and the other is that we lost a dear friend a couple of weeks ago. Leslie was only 38 years old, and she died of complications due to pneumonia. I have to say that pneumonia is an illness that should be taken seriously, and it has affected our lives in many ways now. Adam's mother died of complications from pneumonia as well, and my mother was in ICU for a couple of days with it over two years ago. What they all had in common was that they had/have autoimmune diseases, which made/makes them susceptible to infections like pneumonia. Both of our mothers had/have MS and Leslie had a disease called ITP. The frustrating part about all of this is that doctors really know very little about what causes these diseases, but of course research is ongoing, so hopefully breakthroughs will come sooner, rather than later.

Leslie's passing was really a shock to me, as she was very sick in the hospital in May with the same thing. She was getting better. Each time I saw her, she was stronger. Then we get a horrible phone call on the morning of the 19th. I really still have a hard time believing it.

Leslie was a loving mother to her two children, ages 5 and 3. And it really breaks my heart that she missed her daughter's first day of kindergarten, as she was so proud of her. Leslie was a wonderful friend and teacher. She loved to do crafts, and she showed me how to knit. She was also a computer whiz, and she taught me Photoshop. It was her encouragement and patience that helped turn me onto graphic design. She had a quirky, perverse sense of humor, similar to mine, so we could usually laugh at things that most people may have found inappropriate. She was kind and caring, and she was so supportive of Adam and I becoming parents. I will miss her very much.

If anyone is interested in learning more about ITP or MS or want to donate to help find cures, please visit:
Platelet Disorder Support Association
Bunny Gass Memorial page

4 comments:

  1. I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. She sounds like a wonderful person who will be greatly missed.

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  2. I'm so sorry... it's always difficult to lose someone you hold dear. I'm glad though that she touched your life in a wonderful way, and it sounds, many others as well.

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  3. Awww Kammie,
    it just breaks my heart to hear about your dear friend Leslie.
    It's heart breaking to know that her little ones will never know all the dynamics of their Mommy,
    It's times and events like this that make it so hard to understand God's plans for our journey her on earth,
    but I pray and pray and keep my faith, and know one day, all my questions will be answered, and I will reunited in eternal life with God and all our love ones.
    I'm sending tons of love and prayers to you guys, and Leslie and her family.
    ♡♡♡♡♡♡♡

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