My friend died.

[Left Is Write]

I never met Kate in person, but we posted together over the years on various forums. I guess I've known her about seven years. There were periods of time when we were closer than other times, of course, as these things go, but she (and several other of our mutual boardmates) was always around. She was always there.

She was a breast cancer survivor. She never made it to five years cancer-free; she learned in 2004 that the cancer had metastasized to her liver. She beat that damn liver tumor, but then the cancer came back again. It's not as though her many online friends didn't realize what kind of prognosis she had, but so many of us were still hit with unexpected shock when we learned the news of her passing.

She left behind her husband and three children, one age 15 and twins age 8.

Kate was only 35 years old.

[billyskank]

1. I'm sorry.

:hug:

:(

[redqueen]

2. I'm sorry LIW...

especially for her family. :(

[GoddessOfGuinness]

3. I'm so sorry...

:hug:

[Left Is Write]

6. She was a Secret Santa one year for me at Christmas, and another year I was hers.

I don't even remember what I gave her, but she sent me a book I had been wanting to read. She remembered my having posted about that particular book, and I remember thinking how thoughtful she was to give it to me.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

18. I'm glad you have a token to remember her by...

Having something tangible makes online friendships a little more special, I think.
I felt so honored when Oneighty sent me the book he'd written. I read a few pages now and then to remind me of this man I never met, but whose posts would help restore my balance when things seemed impossibly bleak. :hug:

[Taverner]

I'm so sorry LIW

hugs

:hug:

[ThomCat]

4. I'm very sorry. I hope her family is coping.

:(

:hug:

[Left Is Write]

5. My heart just goes out to those children.

I can't even imagine the depth of their loss.

[Maddy McCall]

7. How terrible.

Too young. So unfair.

:hug:

[Inchworm]

8. I mourn for her and her family

That is truly sad. I hope the best for those left living in her absence. :cry:

:hug:

[SeattleGirl]

9. That is so sad.

My condolences to her family, to you, and to all her boardmates. :hug:

[supernova]

10. I'm so sorry LiW

Online friends are just as real and valuable as offline ones.

Man, she was too young.

[LaraMN]

11. How awful, honey.

My best friend's mom had a similar progression with cancer- breast, in remission for several years, then metastasized to her liver, then her brain.

It's such a wretched thing to see someone go through. Especially someone so young.


:hug:

[TheProphetess]

12. Oh my god

I'm 35 years old. That's just terrible. I am truly very sorry to hear about her passing. May her family find comfort by celebrating her life as much as possible. :hug:

[xchrom]

13. three children. very sad. -- i'm sure you're very sad.

[bigwillq]

14. How terrible.

That is just awful. My heart goes out to her family.

I am so sorry that you lost your friend.

:hug:

[Guava Jelly]

15. Sorry for the family

Cancer is a disease that f_cking infuriates me to no end!
I have had good friends pass because of it.:( :hug: to the family and to her friends..Including you

[Writer]

16. I am very sorry to hear this.

35 is much too young, but it sounds like she fought very hard.

:hug:

[SPKrazy]

17. how very sad LIW

online friends are real too, and I'm sorry your friend died and it sounds like she had a nice family and it's just sad to hear.

:pals:

[Dangerously Amused]

19. So sorry, LIW.

For you:





For Kate:

[Starbucks Anarchist]

20. I'm so sorry, LiW.

:hug:

[brook]

21. I'm so sorry.

Online friends can become really good friends - without ever a 'face-to-face'. Something in them speaks to something in you and a friendship blooms. And when you loose them in death, the pain's as acute as if they lived next door.

I'm so sorry for your loss, for her family's, especially, the children's loss. How much she must have hated to leave them.

:hug:

[Sequoia]

22. That's so sad and I'm sorry.

[ikojo]

23. My condolences to you and Kate's friends

and family.

May her memory be for a blessing.

Zichranon livracha.

:hug:

[GOPisEvil]

24. That's just awful. How sad for her family and friends.

[Bullwinkle925]

25. It's really difficult to accept the circle of life. . .

no matter what age. I hope that her family are handling this in the best way that they can. I wish them (and yourself) a peaceful time of healing.

:hug:

[CaliforniaPeggy]

26. My dear Left Is Write...

How sad for all of you...

I want to especially echo what some other folks have said here: Online friends are just as real and important to us as those offline...

This is a dreadful loss...

Safe passage to her...

And my deepest condolences to you and her family and friends......:hug:

[kay1864]

27. I'm so sorry LIW

I can't even think about her three children coping with that without a tear forming.

[S n o w b a l l]

28. How tragic LIW....I'm sorry

Sending hugs and loving thoughts.

:hug:

[GreenPartyVoter]

29. I am SO sorry! *huge hugs and lots of prayers*

[TheBaldyMan]

30. I'm very sorry

I hope her family pulls through alright.

[greatauntoftriplets]

31. I am so sorry about your friend....

Condolences to her and her family.

Edited to add: :hug:

[applegrove]

32. Sorry. It must be so hard for the kids. Sending vibes your way.

[wildhorses]

33. i am sorry liw. may she rest in peace.

my condolences to her family.

[BarenakedLady]

34. OMG

No!

omg

:cry:

[Left Is Write]

35. PM me?

[Inchworm]

43. I'm sorry ms BNL

[TOhioLiberal]

36. I'm sorry LIW...

...:cry: Cancer sucks. :cry: :hug:

[tigereye]

37. aw, I'm sorry, Left... for you, your friends and her family...

I hate cancer. I wish someone would find a cure. :( :hug:

[huskerlaw]

38. I'm very sorry, LIW

I lost a friend this past weekend, so I definitely sympathize. It's so hard to accept that someone is gone. I think the hardest thing for me is knowing how much pain the families are in, and being unable to take any of that pain away.

Anyway, I understand, and I'm so sorry.


:hug:

[puerco-bellies]

39. I'm so sorry LiW.. So young..

Condolences to her friends and Family.

[seemunkee]

40. I'm sorry

Amazing how close you can feel to someone you never saw in person. My sympathy to you and her family.

[RetroLounge]

41. So sorry to hear...

Those poor kids, and her husband too...

:hug:

RL

[Haole Girl]

42. I'm sorry

35 is so young.

:cry:

[rockymountaindem]

44. My condolences

[reyd reid reed]

45. I'm so sorry, hon.

I wish I could make the hurt go away. You're in my thoughts, as is her family.

:hug::hug::hug:

[RFKHumphreyObama]

46. My sincere and heartfelt thoughts, prayers, condolences and sympathies

To you and all the friends and family of Kate:hug: :hug: :hug: :hug: :hug:

This is just so sad. I'm very, very sorry to hear this

[Dinger]

47. You And Your Friend's Family Are In My Thoughts & Prayers

How very sad. :grouphug:

[laylah]

48. What a tragedy!

:hug: My thoughts and prayers go out to you and her family. She was much too young, so very, very young :sad: